DOES QUALITY-OF-LIFE DIFFER IN SCHIZOPHRENIC WOMEN AND MEN - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY

In our study of 617 schizophrenic patients, we tested the hypothesis t hat women have a better objective and subjective quality of life than men. Better social integration of women was confirmed. Objective condi tions had a significant but quantitatively small impact on satisfactio n with specific life domains. Better social integration did not, howev er, lead to more satisfaction among schizophrenic women. Satisfaction with life in general was better predicted by satisfaction in different life domains than by objective circumstances. Predictors of satisfact ion with life were not equal for both sexes. Rather than confirming qu antitative differences in subjective quality of life, our data support the existence of gender-specific processes and contexts of subjective valuation.