Analysis of Benefit Finding Levels and Influencing Factors Among Patients with Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Benefit finding has been associated with individuals' mental health and recovery in other somatic disease domains. However, research on benefit finding in the field of mental illness remains limited, particularly in China. Given China's unique cultural context, this study preliminarily analyzes the factors influencing the level of benefit finding among individuals with mental disorders in China and explores its correlation with quality of life. Method From January to October 2022, a convenience sample of 441 patients with mental disorders was recruited from the Mental Health Center of a large tertiary hospital. Data collection employed a General Information Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Benefits Finding Questionnaire for Mental Disorders, and the WHO Quality of Life Brief Assessment. The study analyzed the current status of benefits finding among these patients and its influencing factors, while also exploring the correlation between benefits finding levels and quality of life. Results Patients with mental disorders exhibited low levels of perceived benefits, with an average score of 57.25 ± 14.51. Linear stratified regression analysis revealed that disease diagnosis(P = 0.001), receipt of psychological therapy༈P = 0.05༉, family relationships༈P = 0.002༉, and social support༈P<0.001༉significantly influenced perceived benefits among these patients. Perceived benefits were positively correlated with quality of life (r = 0.708, P < 0.05). Conclusion The level of perceived benefits among individuals with mental disorders is not high, primarily related to disease diagnosis, receipt of psychological treatment, family relationships, and social support. Perceived benefit scores are positively correlated with quality of life—higher perceived benefit scores correlate with higher quality of life scores. This suggests that healthcare providers should prioritize assessing the level of perceived benefits among individuals with mental disorders, identifying those with low perceived benefit levels for intervention, thereby improving their quality of life. Implications for Practice: Healthcare providers should prioritize assessing the family relationships and social support networks of patients with mental disorders. They should emphasize benefit finding following diagnosis, encourage family involvement in the patient's treatment process, promote recovery, and enhance quality of life.