Ethnicity moderates the effects of resources on quality of life for persons with mental illness living in community settings

Objective: The study explored quality of life among Jewish and Arab individuals with mental disorders living in community settings in Israel. The goal was to examine the associations between social and psychological resources, involvement in decisions, and quality of life, and to assess the moderating effects of ethnicity on these associations. Method: The sample consisted of 58 Jewish and 62 Arab residents with schizophrenia, living in community residences. They completed questionnaires assessing social support, mastery, involvement in decision making, and quality of life. Results: Social support contributed positively and significantly to the residents' quality of life. Jewish residents scored significantly higher than Arab residents in involvement in decisions. Significant moderation effects of ethnicity were observed: The associations between social support and quality of life, and between involvement in decisions and quality of life, were positive and stronger among the Jewish residents than among the Arab residents. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Social support is a highly important resource for community residents with serious mental illness, and improving their social relationships should be viewed as a vital rehabilitative goal. In addition, ethnicity is an important factor in the residents' involvement in decisions and in moderating some of the associations of social support and involvement in decisions with quality of life. Thus, when developing rehabilitative programs and setting goals for community residents with mental illness, their ethnicity should be taken into consideration.