Many variables influencing quality of life (QOL) for outpatients with schizophrenia have been identified from prior studies. Symptom severity, psychosocial rehabilitation activities, and empowerment have all been clearly identified as key variables. However, which variables are the most influential and important factors remains unknown; factors influencing QOL, either directly or indirectly and to what degree, need to be examined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that empowerment is a possible mediator of how (a) psychiatric symptoms and (b) psychosocial rehabilitation activities affect QOL for outpatients with schizophrenia in the community. We used the probability proportional to size random sampling for 190 outpatients with schizophrenia at 10 community rehabilitation centers in Taipei, such that samples consisted of adults who fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria. The instruments included the questionnaire to gather demographic and disease information, the Empowerment Scale, the Psychiatric Symptoms Scale, the psychosocial rehabilitation activity (PRA), and the Quality of Life Scale for Psychiatric Patients. Beyond descriptive statistics, correlation and structural equation models were computed. Findings showed that empowerment in outpatients with schizophrenia mediates QOL, whereas psychosocial rehabilitation activities seem to increase empowerment, which may in turn increase QOL. Psychotic symptoms seem to have a direct effect of decreasing QOL that could not be mediated by empowerment. Empowerment had a significant effect on QOL for outpatients with schizophrenia. The findings of this study support the importance of empowerment and rehabilitation activities for promoting QOL among community outpatients. We suggest that various rehabilitation programs and empowerment health education are needed to enhance QOL for schizophrenia outpatients in the community.
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