[Effects on Stress, Problem Solving Ability and Quality of Life of as a Stress Management Program for Hospitalized Schizophrenic Patients: Based on the Stress, Appraisal-Coping Model of Lazarus & Folkman].
OBJECTIVE
The study was done to evaluate the effects a Stress Management Program (SMP) on stress, problem solving skills, and quality of life for hospitalized patients with Schizophrenia.


METHODS
A mixed method design was used: a combination of a repeated-measure design with a non-equivalent control group and qualitative data collection. The participants were 40 patients with schizophrenia admitted in three psychiatric hospitals. The experimental group (n=20) received the SMP twice a week for a total of 8 weeks.


RESULTS
Study results revealed that the SMP was effective for stress (F=321.02, p<.001), problem solving ability (F=246.28, p<.001), and quality of life (F=63.35,p<.001) for hospitalized persons with schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a SMP can be an effective strategy to reduce patients' hospitalization stress, and improve problem solving skills and quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended that mental health nurses use this stress management program in clinical practice to assist adaptation to hospitalization for persons with schizophrenia.
Nursing Department, Munkyung College, Munkyung, Korea.
Sun Ah
SA
Park
College of Nursing & Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. sung@gnu.ac.kr.
Kyung Mi
KM
Sung
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010361:Patients; D011340:Problem Solving; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
Hospitalization; Problem solving; Quality of life; Schizophrenia; Stress