The Effectiveness of Social Skills Training on Improving Interpersonal Communication, Quality of Life, Reduction of Negative Symptoms, and Social Adjustment in Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe psychotic disorder characterized by impaired communication skills, social withdrawal, negative symptoms, and reduced quality of life. Deficits in social skills often lead to isolation, increased family dependency, and poor social adjustment. In recent years, social skills training (SST) has been recognized as an effective psychosocial intervention aimed at improving interpersonal competence and quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of social skills training on improving interpersonal communication, quality of life, reduction of negative symptoms, and social adjustment in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This research followed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control groups. The statistical population consisted of patients with schizophrenia hospitalized at Razi Psychiatric Hospital in Tabriz in ۲۰۲۳. Thirty eligible participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n = ۱۵ per group). The experimental group received ten sessions of structured social skills training, while the control group continued routine psychiatric care. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires assessing interpersonal communication skills, quality of life, social adjustment, and negative symptoms. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with SPSS version ۲۶. Results: Findings revealed that social skills training significantly improved interpersonal communication skills, quality of life, and social adjustment, and reduced negative symptoms compared with the control group (p < ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Social skills training can be considered an effective and applicable intervention to enhance psychosocial functioning and promote rehabilitation in patients with schizophrenia. Keywords: Schizophrenia, Social Skills Training, Interpersonal Communication, Quality of Life, Social Adjustment

Keywords:

Schizophrenia , Social Skills Training , Interpersonal Communication , Quality of Life , Social Adjustment