Higher Levels Of Self-stigma Research Articles

Understanding Motivations for Dating App Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men: Validation, Latent Profile Analysis, and Differences in Health Outcomes.

While there has been a proliferation in gay dating app (GDA) use in China, research into their potential effects on health outcomes, particularly mental health outcomes, among gay and bisexual men is lacking. The motivations for GDA use are diverse, and understanding users' motivation profiles may provide a necessary starting point for exploring the heterogeneous effects of GDA use on health outcomes. A cross-sectional survey of the motivations for GDA use and other health outcome variables (i.e., condom use frequency, self-stigma, and subjective emptiness) was conducted among 366 Chinese gay and bisexual men. The results of exploration structure equation modeling indicate that the GDA Use Motivation Scale, with a four-factor first-order model, had strong psychometric properties. Then, latent profile analysis (LPA) based on the mean scores of four aspects of motivation was performed. The results of the LPA revealed the existence of four profiles: "Weak motivations" (30.9%), "Differentiated motivations" (17.8%), "Moderate motivations" (30.3%), and "Strong motivations" (21.0%). Differences in health outcomes among the motivation profiles were found by using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars approach. Overall, most participants (60.1%) tended to use condoms consistently, regardless of how strong their GDA use motivation was; however, stronger GDA use motivations were associated with higher levels of self-stigma and subjective emptiness. We call for more research to focus on the real needs behind and motivations for GDA use so that all such app users' voices can be heard, as well as to raise awareness about the potential health risks associated with GDA use among Chinese gay and bisexual men.

Self-Stigma and Mental Health in Divorced Single-Parent Women: Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem.

Numerous studies have addressed the issue of "self-stigma" among divorced single-parent women. However, there is a scarcity of quantitative data available on this subject. Moreover, while self-esteem is a crucial factor throughout life, it has been extensively studied in the context of "children" from single-parent families, but not from the perspective of parents themselves. To address this gap, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between self-stigma, self-esteem, and mental health in 347 divorced, single-parent women. The online survey recruited participants randomly, with a specific focus on single mothers who were divorced and had more than one child under the age of 18. The analysis involved utilizing SPSS 25.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA) and PROCESS Macro Version 4.1 (Model 4) to conduct descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, reliability assessment, correlation analysis, and mediating analysis. The findings revealed that self-esteem played a partial mediating role in the relationship between self-stigma and mental health. In other words, higher levels of self-stigma among divorced, single-parent women were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Additionally, the study discovered that engaging in more self-stigma was linked to lower self-esteem and increased mental health distress. These results underscore the significance of internal factors, such as self-stigma and self-esteem, and highlight their relevance in formulating policies aimed at supporting divorced single-parent women. Policymakers should take these factors into account to develop effective strategies to aid this specific group.

Rate and correlates of self-stigma in adult patients with early psychosis.

Self-stigma impedes recovery process and is associated with poorer clinical and functional outcomes in people with psychotic disorders. However, there is limited research specifically examining self-stigma in the early stage of illness, and mixed findings were observed regarding factors associated with increased self-stigma. We aimed to investigate the rate and correlates of self-stigma in a cohort of adult patients with early psychosis using a comprehensive array of clinical, treatment and other illness-related variables. A total of 101 Chinese adult early psychosis patients aged 26-55 years who had received three-year psychiatric treatment for first psychotic episode in Hong Kong and completed self-stigma assessment were included for the current investigation. A broad range of assessments encompassing socio-demographics, premorbid adjustment, onset and illness profiles, symptom severity, psychosocial functioning, treatment characteristics and medication side-effects were conducted. Twenty-eight (27.7%) patients had moderate-to-high levels of self-stigma. Univariate linear regression analyses showed that age at study entry, sex, educational level, age at psychosis onset, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), insight level, global psychosocial functioning, and the use of second-generation antipsychotic were related to self-stigma levels. Final multivariable regression model revealed that female sex, younger age at entry, longer DUP and better insight were independently associated with higher levels of self-stigma. More than one-fourth of early psychosis patients experienced significant self-stigma, highlighting an unmet need for early detection and intervention of self-stigma in the initial years of illness. Further investigation is warranted to clarify trajectories and predictors of self-stigma in the early illness course.

Examining between- and within-person effects of the self-stigma of seeking psychological help on the therapeutic working alliance: The moderating role of psychological distress.

The self-stigma (i.e., shame) associated with psychotherapy is a prominent barrier to seeking psychological help, but less is known about its effects after treatment begins. Evidence suggests that self-stigma may interfere with the formation of the therapeutic alliance, but no studies have examined this throughout the course of psychotherapy. Self-stigma's erosion of the alliance may be most pronounced when clients experience heightened psychological distress, but this also has not been examined. Therefore, the present study addresses these omissions among 37 clients who completed at least three therapy sessions for research credit. Participants completed measures of self-stigma and past-week symptoms of distress before each session and ratings of the working alliance after. Predictor variables were disaggregated into between-person (time-invariant or average levels) and within-person (time-variant or session-by-session changes) components to enable investigation of for whom (and under what conditions) self-stigma was associated with the therapeutic alliance. Results indicated that higher levels of self-stigma (between and within persons) predicted a worse alliance. When examined as an interaction effect alongside distress in a multilevel moderation model, higher between-person ratings of self-stigma predicted a weaker therapist-client alliance across levels (M ± 1 SD) of within-person distress. Notably, its effects became more pronounced as symptoms of distress increased, indicating a period in which clients are simultaneously most likely to need help yet least likely to feel allied with their therapist. Findings highlight the importance for therapists to simultaneously monitor and consider both average and session-by-session fluctuations in self-stigma and distress to develop and maintain the working alliance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Improving Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Male University Students: A Series of Gender-Sensitive Mental Health Feasibility Interventions.

One-third of students experience a mental health condition associated with decreased academic functioning and increased risk of dropping out. While mental health difficulties are lower among male students, they are twice as likely to die by suicide. Although the importance of gender-sensitive interventions for male students has been emphasized, feasible and effective approaches are unexplored. This investigation conducted three gender-sensitive feasibility interventions for male students to evaluate acceptability, changes to help-seeking and mental health outcomes. Three interventions were delivered to 24 male students. The interventions included the following: Intervention 1-a formal intervention targeting male students, Intervention 2-a formal intervention that adopted gender-sensitive language and promoted positive masculine traits, and Intervention 3-an informal drop-in offering a social space providing health information. These were evaluated for acceptability, attitudes to help-seeking, and mental health outcomes. All interventions were equally acceptable. The informal drop-in was more acceptable, having better engagement from male students who have greater conformity to maladaptive masculine traits, more negative attitudes to help-seeking, higher levels of self-stigma, who were less likely to have used mental health support before and belonged to an ethnic minority. These findings indicate differences in acceptability, particularly uptake, for hard-to-engage male students. Informal strategies help reach male students who would otherwise not engage with mental health support, familiarize them with help-seeking, and connect them with pre-existing mental health interventions. More work needs to be carried out using larger samples to investigate the efficacy of informal interventions to engage male students.

범죄경력자 및 가족의 낙인인식에 영향을 미치는 심리요인

The reintegration of individuals with a criminal history into society after serving time in correctional facilities poses significant challenges for both the individual and their family. Approximately 60,000 such individuals are released back into society each year, and the impact of imprisonment and release can be deeply detrimental to the well-being of their families. The stigma faced by families of these individuals often leads to isolation and the loss of social connections, as well as exacerbating the practical difficulties they may experience. This stigma can also lead to negative experiences and increased suffering for the family, beyond that experienced by the individual with a criminal history. Given that the support and resources provided by the family can greatly contribute to the individual's successful reintegration and reduced likelihood of recidivism, it is important to protect families from social stigma and discrimination. However, research on the stigma faced by these families is limited, as are legal and support systems specifically geared towards them. This study aims to better understand the stigma faced by families of individuals with a criminal history, as well as the psychological factors that influence their perception of this stigma.
 This study used descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, t-test, and regression analysis on a total of 127 data points collected from the 2022 Gyeonggi-do 『Psychological treatment support project for families of individuals on probation and others』. The data included 57 responses from individuals with criminal records and 70 responses from their family members.
 As a result, there were statistically significant differences in the stigma perception of individuals with a criminal record and their families in terms of negative anger response, family predictability, drinking frequency, and drinking problems. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the rest of the variables, including the perception of stigma, indicating that the psychological state of the family is not significantly different from that of the individuals with a criminal history. The main psychological factors influencing the stigma of individuals with a criminal record and their families were found to be negative anger responses and negative self-concept. In addition, family predictability was identified as a psychological factor affecting self-stigma among families, suggesting that a greater degree of predictability among family members may be associated with higher levels of self-stigma and an increased number of negative predictions.
 This study suggests the need for further research on the psychological state of families of individuals with a criminal history, as well as the implementation of ongoing educational and psychological support programs to address the challenges faced by these families. Additionally, it is important to consider expanding the legal system to provide practical support for these families.

The mediating role of executive function in the relationship between self-stigma and self-injury or suicidal ideation among men who have sex with men living with HIV.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV suffer from psychosocial pressures and marginalization as a result of being HIV-positive and belonging to a sexual minority group, and self-injury or suicidal ideation are prevalent among this group. Studies have found that both perceived self-stigma and altered executive function is related to self-injury or suicidal ideation. However, the combined contribution of self-stigma and executive function to self-injury or suicidal ideation remains unclear, especially in MSM living with HIV. Therefore, this study is conducted to explore the mechanism of self-injury or suicidal ideation by hypothesizing that executive function plays a mediating role in the relationship between self-stigma and self-injury or suicidal ideation. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 448 MSM living with HIV who were recruited in the HIV clinic of a tertiary general hospital in Changsha, China, from November 2021 to February 2022. A questionnaires survey was adopted to collect sociodemographic and disease-related information and data related to executive function (including working memory, inhibition, and task monitoring), self-stigma, and self-injury or suicidal ideation. Structural equation modeling and bootstrap testing were used to investigate the potential mediating role of executive function in the relationship between self-stigma and suicidal ideation. The participants were aged 18-76 years. Those who had ever had self-injury or suicidal ideation accounted for 32.8% of the total. A higher level of self-stigma and poorer executive function were associated with more frequent self-injury or suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). The mediation model analysis showed a good fit (x 2/df = 1.07, p = 0.381). The direct effect of self-stigma on self-injury or suicidal ideation (β = 0.346, p < 0.001) and the indirect effect of self-stigma via executive function (β = 0.132, p < 0.001) were significant, with the indirect effect accounting for 27.6% of the total effect. This study demonstrates that executive function mediates the relationship between self-stigma and self-injury or suicidal ideation among MSM living with HIV. It suggests that future studies targeting enhancing executive function and decreasing self-stigma may reduce self-injury or suicidal ideation among MSM living with HIV.

O IMPACTO DAS EXPERIÊNCIAS ESTIGMATIZADORAS E AUTOESTIGMA NA SAÚDE MENTAL E NO COMPORTAMENTO SUICIDA: UM ESTUDO EM PAÍSES DE LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA

Introduction: Stigma was first described as an attribute that discredits an individual from society, diminishing the person. People who have self-stigma endorse negative stereotypes about themselves, which leads to negative reactions and feelings of shame. Self-stigma affects the overall health, mainly mental health, quality of life and can lead to poor self-esteem and poor self-efficacy, and has been found to be a major barrier when it comes to seeking help from mental health professionals. There are several studies addressing the effects of self-stigma on people with mental illness and studies addressing how self-stigma affects treatment seeking in people with mental illness. That being said, there is a large gap in demonstrating the relationship between experiences of stigmatization and the impact on mental health. Moreover, self-stigma can be seen as a risk factor for suicide, whose consequences (shame, hopelessness, social isolation and low self-esteem) are also risk factors for suicide. Objectives: The majority of the studies conducted about self-stigma and stigmatizing experiences in Portugal, Brazil and African Countries are focused on the mental health stigma and HIV/AIDS related stigma. Thus, this study aims to address the lack of studies of the impact of stigmatizing experiences in the normative populations in this countries and to explore the impact of self-stigma and stigmatizing experiences on the mental health and suicidal behavior by 1) evaluating the stigmatizing experiences, self-stigma, mental health and suicidal behavior, comparing differences between countries of residence; 2) evaluating the correlations between self-stigma, stigmatizing experiences, mental health variables and suicidal behavior; 3) determining the effect of self-stigma, number of stigmatizing experiences and sociodemographic variables in predicting mental health and suicidal behavior. Methods: 1006 participants from Portugal, Brazil and African Countries with Portuguese as an Official Language (ACPOL), 424 men and 576 women, between the ages of 18 and 80 years old (mean=41.76; SD=14.19) responded to the survey. 53.7% reported having had stigmatizing experiences, in which 15.9% reported experiences about skin colour, 10.7% regarding cultural or ethnic origin, 13.5% regarding gender identity, 9.5% regarding sexual orientation, 17.6% regarding physical attributes, 8.3% regarding age, 15.4% regarding weight, 1.5% regarding physical illness, 3.3% regarding mental illness, 1.3% regarding physical disabilities, 9.5% regarding poverty and 8.1% regarding place of residence. Measurement instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, the Portuguese version of the Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire- Revised (SBQ-R) and the Paradox of Self‑Stigma scale (PaSS‑24). Results: The results showed participants with higher levels of self-stigma and stigmatizing experiences presented significantly higher mental health issues and suicidal behavior. Correlational analyses showed significant correlations among mental health and suicidal variables and self-stigma variables. Regression analyses showed that sociodemographic variables, number of stigmatizing experiences and self-stigma explained 25.3% of mental health issues and sociodemographic variables, number of stigmatizing experiences and self-stigma explained 13.5% of suicidal behavior. Conclusions: Self-stigmatization has a negative impact on mental health and suicidal behavior, and countries should initiate mental health promotion campaigns and suicide prevention campaigns whose central goal should be to optimize people's quality of life

Associations between public and self-stigma of help-seeking with help-seeking attitudes and intention: A meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach.

The present study examined the association between help-seeking public stigma and help-seeking self-stigma (i.e., internalization of stigma) and the relative association of both types of stigma with help-seeking attitude and intention using a full-information meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach. We also investigated the moderating effect of gender, age, collectivism, and social group in the internalization process. Results from 115 independent samples containing data from 54,793 individuals showed that public stigma of help-seeking was strongly and positively associated with self-stigma of help-seeking. Moreover, after controlling for the effect of each other, self-stigma, but not public stigma, remained significantly associated with help-seeking attitude and help-seeking intention. Gender, age, collectivism, and social group did not significantly moderate the association between public and self-stigma. The findings highlight that people who perceive more stigma of help-seeking from others tend to have higher levels of self-stigma. Compared with help-seeking public stigma, help-seeking self-stigma might have a larger impact on one's help-seeking attitude and intention. Help-seeking promotion campaigns should be devised to tackle both types of stigma to foster positive help-seeking attitude and intention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

INTERNALIZED STIGMA AND STIGMATIZING CULTURAL BELIEFS ON PARENTING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG FEMALE PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA: A COMPARISON OF FEMALE PARENT VERSUS NON PARENT

Purpose: Differences in cultural values, norms and conceptualization of mental illness may influence mental illness stigma differently across the globe. Both public and self stigma have widely been researched globally however, little is known about the specific experiences of stigma that females, and in particular mothers, with schizophrenia encounter as parents in Nigeria. The study aims to explore and compare internalized stigma among female parents and female non-parents. The secondary aim is to explore if any association exist between cultural beliefs on parenting with mental illness and internalized stigma among female patients with schizophrenia.&#x0D; Methodology: 142 female patients with schizophrenia attending the GOPD clinic at FNPH Maiduguri recruited through convenience sampling completed the study. They completed a socio-demographic questionnaire and a modified version of the Internalized stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI). Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Differences in self stigma were compared using chi-square for categorical variables and student t- test for continuous variables. P-value was set at 0.05. &#x0D; Findings: A total of 65 (75.6%) female parents and 32 (57.1%) of female non parents with schizophrenia had high self stigma. Female parents had a statically significant higher level of self stigma on the alienation subscale as well as the total score. Myths and misconceptions about parenting with mental illness were rampant.&#x0D; Conclusion: Self stigma is more prevalent among female parents with schizophrenia, with cultural beliefs and practices playing an important role in influencing stigma of mental illness. Further research of the impact of cultural factors on stigma of mental illness and culture specific interventions should be explored to reduce self stigma among parents with mental illness.

Comparisons of psychological distress and self-stigma among three types of substance use disorders receiving treatment-as-usual approaches: real-world data from a 9-month longitudinal study.

Substance use is an important issue worldwide and people with substance use disorders (SUDs) have been reported to have high levels of psychological distress and self-stigma. Therefore, psychological distress and self-stigma in people with SUDs are considerable. The present study used a longitudinal design to examine whether treatment-as-usual approaches in Taiwan improve psychological distress and self-stigma among people with three types of SUDs (heroin, amphetamine, and alcohol use disorders). A 9-month longitudinal design involving four assessments spaced 3 months apart. Convenience sampling was used to recruit people with heroin (n = 112), amphetamine (n = 151), and alcohol (n = 56) use disorders from outpatient psychiatric center in Southern Taiwan. Psychological distress was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), and self-stigma was assessed using the Self-Stigma Scale-Short (SSS-S). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were constructed to understand between-group differences in psychological distress and self-stigma over time. Patients with heroin and amphetamine use disorders had lower levels of psychological distress as compared with those with alcohol use disorder. Levels of psychological distress were lower at Time 2 to Time 4 as compared with Time 1. Patients with heroin and amphetamine use disorders had higher levels of self-stigma as compared with those with alcohol use disorder. Self-stigma levels remained stable over time. The dropout rate of receiving treatment-as-usual approach in the 9-month study was 60%. Treatment as usual for SUDs among outpatients in Taiwan may decrease psychological distress but not self-stigma. However, such effects need to be further examined given the high drop-out rates and absence of a control condition. The findings suggest that self-stigma may warrant additional treatment for patients with SUDs.

Counselor, Know Thyself. The Impact of Mental Health Literacy and Stigma on Stress and Satisfaction in Practicing Counselors

&lt;p&gt;As a professional counselor, awareness of one’s attitudes, biases, and assumptions is critical. Previous research has demonstrated that counselors are not immune to stigma nor to negative attitudes towards mental illness and seeking professional services when concerns arise. Furthermore, researchers have begun to explore relationships between mental health literacy and stigma and how these impact stress and satisfaction levels. To examine these variables in practicing counselors, the current study surveyed a total of 145 participants. Findings from this research indicated that higher levels of self-stigma and negative attitudes towards help-seeking predicted greater levels of stress and less life satisfaction. Mental health literacy did not predict stress or life satisfaction. These results are discussed with emphasis on clinical implications.&lt;/p&gt;

Counselor, Know Thyself. The Impact of Mental Health Literacy and Stigma on Stress and Satisfaction in Practicing Counselors

&lt;p&gt;As a professional counselor, awareness of one’s attitudes, biases, and assumptions is critical. Previous research has demonstrated that counselors are not immune to stigma nor to negative attitudes towards mental illness and seeking professional services when concerns arise. Furthermore, researchers have begun to explore relationships between mental health literacy and stigma and how these impact stress and satisfaction levels. To examine these variables in practicing counselors, the current study surveyed a total of 145 participants. Findings from this research indicated that higher levels of self-stigma and negative attitudes towards help-seeking predicted greater levels of stress and less life satisfaction. Mental health literacy did not predict stress or life satisfaction. These results are discussed with emphasis on clinical implications.&lt;/p&gt;

Characterizing and Measuring Tuberculosis Stigma in the Community: A Mixed-Methods Study in Cambodia.

BackgroundStigma is a significant barrier to healthcare and a factor that drives the global burden of tuberculosis (TB). However, there is a scarcity of information on TB stigma in developing countries. We aimed to characterize, measure, and explore the determinants of TB stigma among people with TB in Cambodia.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study between February and August 2019 using a triangulation convergent design—a cross-sectional survey (n = 730) and nested in-depth interviews (n = 31) among people with TB. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and generalized linear regression models. Qualitative transcripts were thematically analyzed.ResultsA total of 56% and 51% of participants experienced self-stigma and perceived stigma by the community, respectively. We found rural dwellers, knowledge of how TB is transmitted, and knowledge that anybody can get TB were associated with higher levels of self-stigma and perceived stigma by the community. Higher scores on knowledge of TB symptoms were inversely associated with both self-stigma and community stigma. Thematic analyses revealed accounts of experienced stigma, acts of intentional distancing and hiding TB diagnosis from others, and feelings of embarrassment and shame.ConclusionsTuberculosis stigma was prevalent, suggesting a need for the incorporation of stigma-reduction strategies in the national TB responses. These strategies should be contextualized and developed through community engagement. Future research should continue to measure the levels and dimensions of TB stigma among people with TB through behavioral surveillance using standardized tools.

Health-related quality of life among Israeli Arabs diagnosed with depression: the role of illness representations, self-stigma, self-esteem, and age

BackgroundStudies that examined health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors among people diagnosed with depression, have only focused on sociodemographic and clinical factors. This study examined the contribution of illness representations (IRs), self-stigma, self-esteem, and age group (younger adults aged 18 to 64 and older adults aged 65+) to HRQoL among Israeli Arabs diagnosed with depression. MethodsA convenience sample of 160 Israeli Arabs with depression completed measures of cognitive and emotional IRs, self-stigma, self-esteem, HRQoL, and sociodemographic and health characteristics. ResultsParticipants reported low levels of HRQoL, with the older adults reporting significantly lower levels of HRQoL in comparison to those reported by the younger adults. Low levels of HRQoL were significantly associated with negative cognitive and emotional IRs, high levels of self-stigma, and low levels of self-esteem. Cognitive IRs, self-stigma, self-esteem, and age group were found to be the main determinants of HRQoL. LimitationsLimitations of the study include use of a cross-sectional design among culturally homogeneous sample. This limits the generalizability of our results and conclusions, and prevented us from determining causal relationships. ConclusionsThis study emphasizes the role of cognitive IRs, self-stigma, and self-esteem, as well as age, in the HRQoL of individuals diagnosed with depression. Intervention programs should be mindful of these determinants in order to improve the HRQoL of individuals diagnosed with depression.

S27. EXAMINING DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN SELF-REPORT AND CLINICIAN-RATED ASSESSMENTS OF PSYCHOSIS RISK: DOES INTERNALIZED STIGMA MATTER?

BackgroundPsychosis is one of the most highly stigmatized mental health conditions (Thornicroft et al., 2009). Compared to those with other mental health concerns, people diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders are more likely to be perceived by others as dangerous, violent, and unpredictable. As a result, they are often socially marginalized and discriminated against (Crisp et al., 2000; Martin et al., 2007).Individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis may be at lower risk for experiencing public stigma, given that their symptoms are often less outwardly visible at this early stage of illness. However, evidence suggests that those at CHR experience high levels of self-stigma, as they may internalize negative stereotypes related to psychosis (Yang et al., 2010; Yang et al., 2015). Internalized stigma can negatively impact help-seeking behavior and has been associated with lower self-esteem and the underreporting of mental health symptoms (Corrigan, 2004; Corrigan, 2007; Saporito, Ryan, & Teachman, 2011; Rüsch, Angermeyer, & Corrigan, 2005). Despite these findings, no studies to-date have examined how internalized stigma may impact reporting of attenuated psychosis symptoms in the CHR population.The current study aims to examine whether discrepancies between self-report and clinician-rated measures of psychosis risk are associated with internalized stigma in a sample of help-seeking adolescents and young adults. We hypothesized that higher levels of self-stigma will predict inconsistencies between self-reported symptom severity and clinician-obtained diagnoses of psychosis risk.MethodsParticipants will include youth classified as either non-psychosis-related help-seeking controls or at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, as determined by the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS; Miller et al., 2003). The SIPS is administered by trained raters and is currently considered the gold standard tool for diagnosing clinical high-risk syndromes (Thompson et al., 2018). In addition to SIPS diagnoses, psychosis risk will also be assessed using the Prime Screen – Revised (PS-R; Miller et al., 2004), a brief, 12-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure attenuated positive symptoms. Lastly, internalized stigma will be assessed using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory (ISMI; Ritsher, Otilingam, & Grajales, 2003), a 29-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure subjective experiences of stigma in adolescents (e.g., endorsement of negative stereotypes, social withdrawal and feelings of alienation due to mental health problems, etc.).ResultsPreliminary analyses demonstrate a significant interaction between Prime scores and internalized stigma in predicting SIPS diagnoses. Specifically, higher scores on the Prime were associated with increased odds of being diagnosed as CHR on the SIPS, but only for those participants who endorsed low and mean levels of stigma. For participants who endorsed high levels of stigma, there did not appear to be any relation between Prime scores and SIPS diagnoses.DiscussionAt the time of submission, participant recruitment is ongoing, and results and discussion will be presented on the final sample. Findings may inform efforts to improve detection and accurate diagnosis of psychosis risk syndromes in individuals at early stages of illness.

Self-stigma formation process among younger and older Israeli Arabs diagnosed with depression

Objectives Self-stigma is common among persons with depression. Still, studies that examined the process of self-stigma concentrated mostly on younger adults (ages 18–65) with mental illness in general, with a limited number of studies examining older adults with depression. This study was aimed to examine and compare the self-stigma formation process and its relation to self-esteem among younger (ages 18–64) and older Israeli Arabs (age 65+) diagnosed with depression. The study was based on a self-stigma model which defines the self-stigma formation process as composed of three stages: stereotypes awareness, stereotype agreement, and self-concurrence. Method A total of 160 younger and older Israeli Arabs with depression completed measures of self-stigma formation process, self-esteem, and socio-demographic and health characteristics. Results The self-stigma formation process was found as a multi-level and progressive model for both younger and older adults, despite that older adults reported significantly higher levels of self-stigma in all stages of the process. Low self-esteem was significantly associated with higher levels of stereotype agreement and self-concurrence in both age groups. Conclusion The self-stigma formation process provides an adequate model for understanding depression self-stigma in both younger and older adults. Appropriate intervention programs aiming to reduce self-stigma should be developed, focusing on reducing the three stages of self-stigma.

Investigating the Relationship Between Weight-Related Self-Stigma and Mental Health for Overweight/Obese Children in Hong Kong.

This study aimed to test the differences of weight-related self-stigma and mental health conditions between overweight (OW) and non-OW children in Hong Kong. The correlations between weight-related self-stigma and mental health conditions were also investigated. Children aged 8 to 12 years (n = 367; 198 boys) completed questionnaires on weight-related self-stigma (Weight Bias Internalization Scale [WBIS] and Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire [WSSQ]) and mental health conditions (Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5 [BSRS-5]). Compared with non-OW children (n = 241; 143 boys), OW children (n = 114; 55 boys) had higher weight-related self-stigma in the WBIS (26.49 ± 8.68 vs. 21.58 ± 7.54; p < 0.001) and WSSQ scores (26.36 ± 8.98 vs. 21.91 ± 8.71; p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between OW and non-OW children in mental health conditions as reflected by the BSRS-5 score (4.29 ± 4.35 vs. 4.44 ± 4.16; p = 0.761). BSRS-5 was significantly associated with the WBIS. OW children tended to have a higher level of self-stigma; those having a higher level of weight-related self-stigma presented with more mental health problems.

Negative Impacts of Self-Stigma on the Quality of Life of Patients in Methadone Maintenance Treatment: The Mediated Roles of Psychological Distress and Social Functioning.

A sample of heroin users (n = 250) in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was used in this cross-sectional study to clarify the mechanisms of the effects of stigma on quality of life (QoL) through psychological distress and social functioning. All the participants had their self-stigma, psychological distress, social functioning, and QoL measured. Psychological distress and social functioning were proposed to be mediators between self-stigma and QoL. Several linear models using structural equation modeling were conducted to examine the mediated effects. The negative effects of self-stigma on QoL were significantly mediated by psychological distress, as self-stigma directly and significantly influenced psychological distress, but not social functioning. This study demonstrated a linear model describing the effects of self-stigma on QoL for opioid-dependent individuals; psychological distress was also an important mediator between self-stigma and their QoL. Clinicians were able to notice the importance of reducing self-stigma for opioid-dependent individuals according to the following results: higher levels of self-stigma were associated with high psychological distress, decreased social functioning, and impaired QoL. Our mediation findings suggest that treating psychological distress is better than treating social functioning if we want to eliminate the effects of self-stigma on QoL for heroin users.

Acculturation and quality of life among Chinese American breast cancer survivors: The mediating role of self-stigma, ambivalence over emotion expression, and intrusive thoughts.

Highly acculturated Chinese American breast cancer survivors have greater access to health care providers, are English language proficient, and have more knowledge about the health care system. However, less is known about the potential psychosocial factors that may account for the health benefits of acculturation. As such, the current study seeks to understand how mainstream acculturation is associated with higher quality of life by investigating self-stigma, ambivalence over emotion expression (AEE), and intrusive thoughts, as serial mediators among Chinese breast cancer survivors. One hundred twelve Chinese American breast cancer survivors completed a self-reported questionnaire with these trait variables. We found support for a serial multiple mediation hypothesis in which mainstream acculturation was indirectly associated with quality of life through self-stigma, AEE, and intrusive thoughts. Specifically, mainstream acculturation was associated with lower self-stigma, which, in turn, was associated with lower AEE and intrusive thoughts and subsequently resulted in lower quality of life among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. The findings suggest that psychosocial factors are important mechanisms through which acculturation is associated with quality of life among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. As Chinese immigrants acculturate to mainstream American culture, they may benefit from the reduced public stigma toward breast cancer and incorporate new post-immigration knowledge about cancer that protects them from high levels of self-stigma. This, in turn, may lead Chinese American breast cancer survivors to experience lower AEE and intrusive thoughts and subsequently experience higher quality of life.