Communication Competence, Intimacy, and Recovery among patients with Schizophrenia

Harfush, Souzan Abd Elmenem Abd Elghafar; Hafez, Angham Elsaid Tawfik; Menessy, Reem Farag Mahrous

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2025.443108

Communication Competence, Intimacy, and Recovery among patients with Schizophrenia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

² Lecturer of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

³ Assistant professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

10.21608/tsnj.2025.443108

Abstract

Background: Studies indicate that intimate relationships are common unmet
needs among patients with schizophrenia. Those patients most of the time
encounter significant challenges interacting with their immediate environment.
Communication competence and intimacy are major contributing factors of
everyday life of patients with schizophrenia that has significant influence on
patient's recovery. By examining the intricate connection between communication
competence, intimacy and recovery. Aim: to assess communication competence,
intimacy and recovery among patients with schizophrenia and to explore the
relationship between these three variables. Research design: A descriptive
correlational design was utilized in this study. Subject: a convenient sample of
135 patients with schizophrenia at the inpatient psychiatric department, Tanta
university hospital and Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery Center of Tanta
university hospital. Tools: Four tools were used for this study namely, A socio-
demographic and clinical data questionnaire, Interpersonal Communication
Competence Scale, Intimacy scale and Recovery scale. Results: the study
revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between communication
competence and recovery as well as between intimacy and recovery. Conclusion:
communication competencies and intimate relationships are interrelated and
significantly influence mental health and recovery of patients with schizophrenia.
Recommendations: Healthcare professionals and mental health practitioners
should integrate interventions that improve communication and foster intimacy to
enhance patients’ outcomes. Additionally, holistic models of patient’s care should
be implemented to improve mental health recovery and foster community
integration.