title: A mediational model of quality of life for individuals with severe mental health problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the increasing importance of quality of life in the mental health field, the theoretical conceptualization of the construct remains poorly developed. A proposed mediational model of quality of life, which links subjective quality of life with self-related constructs, is examined with a group of long-term psychiatric hostel residents. The present study aims to develop a measure of quality of life based on the proposed model, to explore the data and their implications for service development and finally to conduct a preliminary analysis of the model's predictions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional research design was employed. Quality of life interviews, using a modified version of Lehman's Quality of Life Interview, were carried out with 54 psychiatric residents in Greece. The model's predictions were examined by using a series of regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that perceived improvements in lifestyle, greater autonomy and positive self-concept are significantly and directly associated with better quality of life. In contrast, a direct relationship between objective indicators and subjective quality of life was not found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The traditional two-part quality of life model that includes objective indicators of life circumstances and subjective indicators is extended to included the constructs of self-concept and perceived autonomy. The present extended mediational model of quality of life for individuals with long-term mental health problems appears to have important implications for the planning and delivery of mental health programmes.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zissi
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cochrane
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006274:Health Facility Moving; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy