Perceived Social Support and Recovery Outcomes in Patients with Psychiatric Illness

Abstract

Perceived social support (PSS) has been identified as a significant predictor of recovery outcomes among individuals with psychiatric illness. Despite growing interest, research gaps persist regarding the differential contributions of family, friends, and significant other support on specific recovery dimensions particularly across gender and the mediating mechanisms involved. This study examined the relationship between PSS and recovery outcomes (symptom reduction, functional ability, treatment adherence, and quality of life) in a sample of N=200 adult psychiatric outpatients (100 males, 100 females) recruited from tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Recovery Assessment Scale-Revised were employed as primary instruments. Results indicated significant positive correlations between PSS and all recovery indices (r = .42–.61, p < .001). Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that PSS significantly predicted recovery outcomes (β = .54, p < .001) after controlling for age, illness duration, and diagnosis type (ΔR² = .29). Independent-samples t-tests demonstrated significant gender differences in perceived support from family (t (198) = 3.42, p < .001) and overall recovery (t (198) = 2.87, p < .01), with females reporting higher levels of both. These findings underscore the clinical relevance of social support interventions tailored to gender in psychiatric rehabilitation programs.