Employment Experiences and Employability of People in China Living With Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study

Employment support for people living with schizophrenia in China currently focuses only on patient-level factors. The authors’ aim was to assess the employment experiences of this population and to identify factors related to their employability.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 purposively selected respondents. A thematic analysis was performed.

A framework for examining the employment experiences and factors affecting employability of people living with schizophrenia was developed. Employability varied by individual characteristics, personal circumstances, and external factors. Individual-level characteristics, such as health and well-being, work skills and experience, educational attainment, personal social network, gender, and age, influenced individuals’ work motivation and performance. Personal circumstances, such as family socioeconomic status and caregiving responsibilities, affected whether individuals decided to seek employment. External factors, such as labor market conditions, macroeconomic context, stigma and discrimination, mental health services, and policy factors, determined how likely individuals were to be employed and the types of jobs they were likely to obtain.

A multifaceted combination of factors was found to influence employability among people living with schizophrenia. This research provided a thematic framework to structure effective employment support for people in China living with schizophrenia.