Understanding Functioning in Schizophrenia: A Phenomenological Study in Social Cognition

Background: Impairments in social cognition are recognized as a key factor contributing to functional disabilities in individuals with schizophrenia. This study aims to explore patients’ lived experiences of functioning within the context of social cognition to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of this relationship. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed. Ten discharged patients from the largest psychiatric hospital in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed based on Amedeo Giorgi’s phenomenological method. Results: The analysis identified five overarching themes and 21 subthemes: (1) Restoring Identity Through Employment; (2) The Struggle Between Motivation and Functional Barriers; (3 Living on the Margins of Social Engagement: Cognitive–Emotional Isolation; (4) Dysfunctional Engagement with the Social Environment; and (5) The Family’s Role in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Identity Reconstruction. Functioning within the domain of social cognition was revealed to be a multifaceted and dynamic process, marked by internal struggles, fluctuating motivation, and sustained social withdrawal. Employment emerged as a vital avenue for rebuilding a sense of self, while the family context acted as both a facilitating and constraining force in the psychosocial recovery journey. Conclusion: Functioning in individuals with schizophrenia reflects an ongoing, adaptive process of identity reconstruction, shaped by internal conflict, cognitive-emotional detachment, and impaired social engagement. Employment and family support are key determinants in promoting functional recovery and personal transformation within the framework of social cognition.