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The costs of friendship: severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation

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  • Alain Topor
  • Ingemar Ljungqvist
  • Eva-Lena Strandberg

Abstract

Background: The relationship between severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation has been explored in a number of studies.Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between financial strain and social isolation.Methods: Sixteen persons with severe mental illness were interviewed about their experience of having a severe mental illness, living in poverty and the effect these circumstances had on their social relationships. The interviews were analysed according to thematic analysis.Results: The overarching theme was “the cost of having friends”; it consisted of five categories: the loss of friends; making do without friends; dependence on friends and family; supported socialisation; and money as an aid to recovery. The participants experienced a connection between their financial circumstances, their social relationships and their lack of initiative in maintaining and developing a social network.Conclusions: The results underline the importance of considering the person in his/her social context in order to avoid the risk of interpreting rational strategies for coping as psychiatric symptoms.

Suggested Citation

  • Alain Topor & Ingemar Ljungqvist & Eva-Lena Strandberg, 2016. "The costs of friendship: severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation," Psychosis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(4), pages 336-345, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpsyxx:v:8:y:2016:i:4:p:336-345
    DOI: 10.1080/17522439.2016.1167947
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    Cited by:

    1. Shulamit Ramon, 2018. "The Place of Social Recovery in Mental Health and Related Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Louise Mansfield & Christina Victor & Catherine Meads & Norma Daykin & Alan Tomlinson & Jack Lane & Karen Gray & Alex Golding, 2021. "A Conceptual Review of Loneliness in Adults: Qualitative Evidence Synthesis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Mary V. Seeman, 2017. "Solitude and schizophrenia," Psychosis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 176-183, April.
    4. Mona Sommer & Stian Biong & Marit Borg & Bengt Karlsson & Trude Klevan & Ottar Ness & Linda Nesse & Jeppe Oute & Rolf Sundet & Hesook Suzie Kim, 2021. "Part II: Living Life: A Meta-Synthesis Exploring Recovery as Processual Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, June.

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