Development Of Self-stigma Research Articles

Evaluating Stuttering Self-Stigma and Its Relationship to Adverse Impact in Children and Adolescents With the Child Stuttering Self-Stigma Scale.

Self-stigma occurs when a person internalizes and applies stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination to themselves. For adults who stutter, self-stigma is linked to negative outcomes and reduced quality of life. The development of self-stigma in people who stutter is not well understood. The aim of this study is to evaluate stuttering self-stigma in school-age children and adolescents and explore potential relationships to stuttering's overall adverse impact. One hundred one children and adolescents who stutter, aged 10-18 years, completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES), a measure of adverse impact related to stuttering, and the Childhood Self-Stigma of Stuttering Scale (Child 4S), our novel adapted version of the Self-Stigma of Stuttering Scale (4S) created for this study. The Child 4S comprises three subscales measuring three stages of self-stigma: Awareness, Agreement, and Application. Each stage was evaluated for relationships with child age and the adverse impact of stuttering. We found a range of self-stigma scores among children and adolescents who stutter. Child age did not correlate with Awareness and Agreement; however, older children and adolescents reported greater Application. All stages of self-stigma strongly predicted adverse impact as measured by the OASES, and latter stages of the model were stronger predictors than earlier stages. Children as young as 10 years old may experience stuttering self-stigma, and the application of self-stigma increases in adolescence, a critical period in the development of personal identity. Importantly, all stages of self-stigma predicted adverse impact related to stuttering, with latter stages being stronger predictors than earlier ones consistent with the progressive model of self-stigma being tested. The findings highlight the need for targeted, early intervention to mitigate downstream effects of stuttering self-stigma. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.26352556.

Family influence on stigma internalisation in people with severe mental illness: A grounded theory study.

The internalisation of stigma has adverse effects on the recovery and quality of life of people with severe mental illnesses. Studies have shown that life experiences in one's close environment are highly relevant in explaining the onset and development of self-stigma. Families play a critical role in the daily care of people with severe mental illness and have a profound impact on patient recovery. This qualitative study explored the influence of family on stigma internalisation among people with severe mental illness in the context of Chinese culture. A grounded theory design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients with severe mental illness and 10 family members, and observations were carried out among five of the families. The data analysis followed three steps (open, axial and selective coding) and involved the use of a constant comparative method and memo writing. The COREQ reporting checklist was used to report the results. Our findings revealed that families can facilitate and impede stigma internalisation in people with severe mental illness via negative or positive daily interactions. A theoretical framework was developed to present the potential effects of the identified family factors on stigma internalisation. Three major family factors influencing patients' internalised stigma were identified, namely, "beliefs of family members" at the individual level, "responses within the family" at the intrafamilial level and "differentiated family environment" at the level of the whole family system, in which "biased beliefs of family members" could bring about "negative responses within the family" and further result in patients' internalised stigma. Our findings suggested that mental health stigma internalised by ill people should be viewed within the broad context of the family. Family-based programs aimed at improving positive interactions and support within the family need to be developed and launched, with particular attention given to interventions for affiliate stigma, coping with stigma and families' negative responses towards people with severe mental illness to prevent the internalisation of stigma by patients.

Relationship between neurocognitive function and clinical symptoms with self-stigma in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Background: Self-stigma is associated with poor outcomes of patients with schizophrenia and development of self-stigma is a complex process. Results of studies on relationship of both positive and negative symptoms of psychosis with self-stigma have been inconsistent. Cognitive deficits are common to patients. However, number of studies exploring the relationship specifically between self-stigma and neurocognition are limited.Aims: The current study aimed to examine the relationship between neurocognitive functions and clinical symptoms with self-stigma.Methods: Sixty-four patients with psychosis were recruited and completed the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and neurocognitive tests. Their clinical symptoms and role functioning were also assessed.Results: Neurocognitive function was found to have negative correlations with Stereotype Endorsement and Discrimination Experience. Negative symptoms also correlated negatively with Stereotype Endorsement, Discrimination Experience, and Social Withdrawal. Neurocognitive function and negative symptoms explained 21.2% variance of stereotype endorsement. Neurocognitive function explained 7.9% variance of Discrimination Experience.Conclusions: Poor neurocognitive function is related to self-stigma. This study also further confirmed the relationship between negative symptoms and self-stigma. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted to confirm the nature of such a relationship.

Psychological factors and treatment effectiveness in resistant anxiety disorders in highly comorbid inpatients.

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are a group of various mental syndromes that have been related with generally poor treatment response. Several psychological factors may improve or hinder treatment effectiveness. Hope has a direct impact on the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Also, dissociation is a significant factor influencing treatment efficiency in this group of disorders. Development of self-stigma could decrease treatment effectiveness, as well as several temperamental and character traits. The aim of this study was to explore a relationship between selected psychological factors and treatment efficacy in anxiety disorders.Subjects and methodsA total of 109 inpatients suffering from anxiety disorders with high frequency of comorbidity with depression and/or personality disorder were evaluated at the start of the treatment by the following scales: the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale, and the Temperament and Character Inventory – revised. The participants, who sought treatment for anxiety disorders, completed the following scales at the beginning and end of an inpatient-therapy program: Clinical Global Impression (objective and subjective) the Beck Depression Inventory – second edition, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale. The treatment consisted of 25 group sessions and five individual sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy in combination with pharmacotherapy. There was no randomization to the type of group-therapy program.ResultsGreater improvement in psychopathology, assessed by relative change in objective Clinical Global Impression score, was connected with low initial dissociation level, harm avoidance, and self-stigma, and higher amounts of hope and self-directedness. Also, individuals without a comorbid personality disorder improved considerably more than comorbid patients. According to backward-stepwise multiple regression, the best significant predictor of treatment effectiveness was the initial level of self-stigma.ConclusionThe initial higher levels of self-stigma predict a lower effectiveness of treatment in resistant-anxiety-disorder patients with high comorbidity with depression and/or personality disorder. The results suggest that an increased focus on self-stigma during therapy could lead to better treatment outcomes.

Cognitive Insight and Causal Attribution in the Development of Self-Stigma Among Individuals With Schizophrenia

Stigma has dampening effects on the overall rehabilitation of individuals given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This study was an initial attempt to understand the relationship between cognitive insight and attribution in the development of self-stigma among this group of mental health consumers. In a cross-sectional design, the investigators interviewed 162 mental health consumers with broad diagnoses of schizophrenia from 15 community-based psychiatric rehabilitation centers in Hong Kong. After controlling for the effects of demographic and illness-related factors, the authors used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to investigate the effects of cognitive insight and causal attribution on self-stigma. Better cognitive insight and attribution of personal responsibility to the cause of the illness were significantly associated with higher levels of self-stigma. Given that awareness and interpretation of participants' illness were related to self-stigma, cognitive restructuring is needed to alleviate self-stigma among individuals with schizophrenia.

Cognitive Insight and Causal Attribution in the Development of Self-Stigma Among Individuals With Schizophrenia

Cognitive Insight and Causal Attribution in the Development of Self-Stigma Among Individuals With Schizophrenia