Lack of social support is a risk factor for symptom recurrence and poor prognosis for individuals with severe mental disorders. Compared to healthy populations, individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are more likely to perceive lower levels of social support. Evidence is needed on perceived social support in parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and their co-parents.
Based on data from a population-based cohort study, The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study - VIA 7, we compared perceived social support measured with The Social Provisions Scale (SPS) in parents with schizophrenia (n = 148), their co-parents (n = 157), parents with bipolar disorder (n = 98), their co-parents (n = 89), and control parents (n = 359).
We found lower levels of perceived social support in parents with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared with controls. Schizophrenia co-parents had lower levels of perceived social support compared to controls, but no difference was found between bipolar disorder co-parents and controls.
Low levels of perceived social support for these parents may pose an additional risk factor for their offspring in addition to the effects of genetic risk. Our results may inform future intervention studies and highlight the need for support for families with parental schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.