Schizophrenia in College Students in Korea: A Qualitative Perspective

PURPOSE. The objective of this study was to identify the salient themes that characterize the life experiences of college students with schizophrenia. METHODS. Twenty‐one schizophrenia patients enrolled in college underwent in‐depth interviews employing semistructured questionnaires. The content of the interviews was analyzed for recurring themes and categories of experience. FINDINGS. Analyses revealed 25 themes and six categories of experience. Subjects reported the experiences of school life (23.6%), interactions with family (22.2%), interactions with friends (21.9%), a mental illness (20.5%), everyday life (6.1%), and social role performance (5.7%). CONCLUSIONS. This study supports the need for treatment options that meet the students’ actual life experiences focusing on developmental characteristics and needs.