Physical Health Views Among Individuals Experiencing Mental Illness: A Mixed-Methods Study of Self-Reported Health and Contributing Factors

Abstract

Severe mental illness is linked to poor physical health and shorter life expectancy, yet research on how individuals experiencing mental illness view and on improve their physical health is limited. This study investigates the perceptions of individuals experiencing mental illness regarding their physical health, utilising a mixed-methods approach. Phase I involved quantitative and qualitative data from an online Qualtrics survey, which included the 12-item Short Form (SF-12) survey to measure participants' quality of life and assess self-reported physical and mental health. Key findings from Phase I revealed significant relationships between lower Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores and factors such as the frequency of GP visits. Additionally, exercise preferences were found to significantly impact Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, with individuals who preferred a mix of exercise settings reporting higher MCS scores compared to those who exercised alone or with a training partner. Phase II explored these findings further through semi-structured interviews, where participants discussed themes including physical health perceptions, the role of medication and the importance of the general practitioner relationship. Thematic analysis revealed five main barriers to improving physical health: accessibility and availability of services, motivation, staff attitudes, medication side effects and the experience of diagnostic overshadowing. Participants reported viewing physical and mental health as interconnected and expressed a desire for more collaborative care. The results suggest that strengthening the relationship with GPs and increasing awareness of medication side effects may improve physical health outcomes for individuals experiencing mental illness. Mental health nurses can play a pivotal role in enhancing physical health outcomes by monitoring, supporting health-improving strategies and facilitating access to primary care services.