Factors associated with social support among older inpatients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND

Older inpatients with schizophrenia have lower social support levels that may affect clinical outcomes, yet the associated factors in this population remain underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the factors associated with social support in older inpatients with schizophrenia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 inpatients with schizophrenia recruited from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Guangzhou, China, between February 2023 and December 2024. Social support and its three dimensions were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were applied to identify factors associated with social support.

RESULTS

The mean SSRS total score was 30.26 ± 7.07. Multiple linear regression revealed that higher levels of insight (ITAQ: β = 0.431, 95% CI: 0.308 ~ 0.555, p < 0.001) and having a spouse (β = 4.393, 95% CI: 2.563 ~ 6.222, p < 0.001) were positively associated with higher SSRS total scores, whereas higher suicide risk (NGASR: β = -0.507, 95% CI: -0.848 ~ -0.166, p = 0.004), greater depressive symptoms (GDS: β = -0.156, 95% CI: -0.282 ~ -0.030, p = 0.016), and longer course of schizophrenia (β = -0.092, 95% CI: -0.154 ~ -0.029, p = 0.004) were negatively associated. The regression models explained 36.3% of the variance (adjusted R 2 = 0.323, F = 9.019, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Social support among older inpatients with schizophrenia is associated with marital status, insight level, suicide risk, depressive symptoms, and disease duration. Multidimensional interventions targeting specific support dimensions are needed to improve social support in this population.