Influencing factors on symptom self management in patients with chronic mental disorders

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing symptom self management (SSM) in the patient with a chronic mental disorder. METHOD: Data was collected by questionnaires from 204 chronic mental disorders in an outpatient clinic in a General Hospital and Public Mental Health Centers in Seoul and Kyunggi Province. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The score of SSM showed a significantly positive correlation with the score of the level of self efficacy (SE) (r=.33, p=.00), social support (SS) (r=.27, p=.00), self care agency (SCA) (r=.36, p=.00) and daily living ability (DLA) (r=.34, p=.00). The score of DLA showed a significantly positive correlation with the score of level of SE (r=.46, p=.00), SS (r=.51, p=.00), and SCA (r=.52, p=.00). The most powerful predictor of SSM was SCA (14%). A combination of SCA, DLA, and SS account for 20% of the variance in SSM. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that SCA, DLA, and SS are significant influencing factors on SSM in patients with chronic mental disorders.