The Cognitive Content and Habitual Process of Self-stigma: Effects On Self-esteem and Recovery

Abstract

Introduction While many people with mental illness endorse and internalize cultural stereotypes of mental illness at some point, they may have different degrees of habitual recurrence of such self-stigmatizing thoughts, which could exacerbate the experience of self-stigma and perpetuate its adverse effects on mental well-being and help-seeking. To date, studies have shown the adverse effects of the cognitive content of self-stigma (a.k.a. stereotype self-concurrence) on self-esteem and recovery among people with mental illness. However, no study has taken into account the effects of the habitual process of self-stigma (a.k.a. habitual self-stigma). The present study aims to investigate whether habitual self-stigma incrementally predicts self-esteem and recovery above and beyond stereotype self-concurrence. Methods Ninety seven people with mental illness completed measures of stereotype self-concurrence, habitual self-stigma, self-esteem, and recovery. The Self-Stigma Scale—Short Form (SSS-SF) was used to assess stereotype self-concurrence. The Self-stigmatizing Thinking's Automaticity and Repetition (STAR) scale was used to assess habitual self-stigma. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) was used to assess self-esteem. The Maryland Assessment of Recovery in People with Serious Mental Illness (MARS) was used to assess recovery. Results Multivariate linear regressions showed that habitual self-stigma had an incremental value over and above stereotype self-concurrence in predicting self-esteem and recovery. Conclusions Future research on self-stigma should simultaneously consider both its cognitive content and habitual process so that the effects of self-stigma on people with mental illness can be more fully captured.