Strengths in patients with schizophrenia and healthy people - similarities and differences

Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the character strengths of people with schizophrenia and their importance in building life satisfaction, and also to identify differences and similarities in the character strengths between people with schizophrenia and healthy people. Methods. 40 people with diagnosed schizophrenia and 40 healthy people participated in the study. Each participant was examined with the following tools: Socio-Demographic Data Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), International Personality Item Pool - Values in Action (IPIP-VIA). Results. People with schizophrenia achieved significantly lower scores than those in the control group in terms of such strengths of character like: hope, humor, self-regulation, citizenship, leadership, capacity for love, kindness, social/emotional intelligence, bravery, industry, integrity, zest, curiosity, love of learning, perspective/wisdom. People with schizophrenia are also different from healthy people in terms of experiencing life satisfaction. At the same time, they do not differ in such strengths of character as: originality, judgment, fairness, forgiveness/mercy, modesty/humility, prudence, appreciation for beauty, gratitude, spirituality. The character strengths of people in the clinical group (more often than in the control group) are associated with the sense of life satisfaction. In older people suffering from schizophrenia, many strengths of their character are reduced. Conclusions. People with schizophrenia are different from those in the control group in terms of 15 strengths. They are also less satisfied with their lives. Experiencing life satisfaction of people with schizophrenia is associated with a complex configuration of strengths.