Prevalence and factors influencing low social support from family, friends, and significant others among people with mental illness attending psychiatric outpatient clinics in Gondar, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Evidence demonstrates a correlation between high social support and better health outcomes. However, people with mental illness are less likely to receive adequate social support to overcome mental health challenges when compared with the general population. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and associated factors of low perceived social support from family, friends and significant others among people with mental illness attending a psychiatry outpatient clinic in Gondar, Ethiopia.

Methods: Data were collected from 636 participants attending a psychiatry outpatient clinic at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Two individuals consented but did not complete the questionnaires from October 2022 to March 2023. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Perceived social support was measured with the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support scale (MPSS-12). Other questions assessed self-esteem, drug adherence, substance use and severity of illness, alongside sociodemographic factors. Variables were coded and entered into SPSS-28 software for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: Prevalence of low perceived social support was 12.1% (N = 77). In the final regression analysis, several factors were associated with a greater likelihood of overall low perceived social support. These include living alone (OR = 2.40, CI = 1.24,4.63), having a relapse (OR = 2.13; CI = 1.13,4.02), family not participating in patient care (OR = 4.67; CI = 2.49,8.76), having moderate and severe objective severity (OR = 2.51; CI = 1.41,4.45), having low self-esteem (OR = 2.36; CI = 1.34,4.15) and having poor drug adherence (OR = 1.99; CI = 1.02,3.89).

Conclusions: Over 10% of people with a mental illness attending the outpatient psychiatry clinic reported low perceived social support. The study indicates that efforts to address low social support should focus specifically on patients, including those: living alone, having relapses, having families that do not participate in patient care, having moderate and severe objective severity of illness, having low self-esteem, and having poor drug adherence.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.