Lower Self-stigma Research Articles

Sexual Self-Identification Offsets and Self-Stigma Moderates: Expanding the Rejection-Identification Model to Examine Stigma’s Effects on Well-Being Among Gay and Bisexual Men

ABSTRACT Gender and sexual minorities still face stigma-related stress from all areas of society. The rejection-identification model (RIM) proposes that some stigmatized individuals may respond to the negative effects of stigma on well-being by enhancing their self-identification. However, this does not apply to all gender and sexual minorities. Grounded in minority stress theory and the RIM, this study examined how stigma-related stressors (i.e. perceived stigma and self-stigma) and their associated mechanisms impact sexual self-identification and subjective well-being. A total of 366 Chinese gay and bisexual men were included in the study. The results showed that sexual self-identification, as a protective factor, mediated the association between perceived stigma and subjective well-being. Furthermore, the indirect effect of the mediation model was moderated by self-stigma, such that the indirect effect of perceived stigma on subjective well-being through sexual self-identification was the highest among Chinese gay and bisexual men with low self-stigma. Given that research into the mental health and well-being of Chinese gay and bisexual men is still in its infancy, our findings are important and may help in developing and improving socially and psychologically sensitive counseling services or intervention strategies for these populations.

Predicting Psychopathology in Jewish Ultra-Orthodox IPV Survivors: A Machine Learning Approach

The nature of the abuse, cultural and religious values, trauma-related cognitions, and recovery actions are considered factors that shape intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors’ recovery and pathology. However, less is known about their specific impact on women’s psychopathology and wellbeing. Concomitantly, there is scant information about IPV survivors from collectivistic societies such as the Israeli Jewish Ultra-orthodox (JUO) community. The present study was designed to identify predictors of post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms and wellbeing in women from the JUO community who have experienced IPV. Women (N = 261) provided information about their demographics, the nature of the violence, attitudes with respect to cultural and religious norms that normalize violence, trauma-related cognitions, the coping constructs of disengagement, faith, and engaging in help-seeking and recovery actions, and the PTSD symptoms that affect their wellbeing. A Random Forest machine learning (ML) algorithm was used to identify the strongest predictors of psychopathology and wellbeing. Regression trees were developed to identify individuals at greater risk of PTSD symptoms but also of greater wellbeing. Higher self-stigma and the perception of an unsafe world were associated with PTSD symptoms, whereas lower self-stigma, greater faith, and engagement in steps toward recovery were associated with greater wellbeing. These findings highlight the importance of treating women’s self-stigma and perceptions of an unsafe world while also encouraging faith and active engagement in recovery to promote survivors’ wellbeing and lessen their PTSD symptoms.

Understanding mental health help-seeking and stigma among Hungarian adults: A network perspective.

Hungarians exhibit more negative attitudes toward help-seeking for mental health problems compared to other European countries. However, research on help-seeking in Hungary is limited, and it is unclear how stigma relates to help-seeking when considering demographic and clinical characteristics. We used a network analytic approach to simulate a stigma model using hypothesized constructs in a sizable sample of Hungarian adults. Participants were 345 adults recruited from nine primary care offices across Hungary. Participants completed self-report measures assessing public stigma, self-stigma, experiential avoidance (EA), attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, anxiety, depression, demographics, prior use of mental health services, and whether they have a family member or friend with a mental health condition. EA and anxiety were the most central nodes in the network. The network also revealed associations between greater EA with greater public stigma, anxiety, depression, and having a family member or friend with a mental health condition. More positive attitudes toward seeking help were associated with lower self-stigma, public stigma, and having received psychological treatment in their lifetime. Being female was associated with lower income, higher education, and having received psychological treatment in their lifetime. Finally, having a family member or friend with a mental health condition was associated with having received psychological treatment in their lifetime and greater public stigma. The strength centrality and associations of EA with clinical covariates and public stigma implicate its importance in stigma models. Findings also suggest that while some aspects of existing stigma models are retained in countries like Hungary, other aspects may diverge.

Study of self- stigma and self -esteem in patients with anxiety and depression

: Self -stigma occurs when a person accepts the negative attitude towards them, then internalize and apply belief to themselves. Self-esteem is individual’s subjective evaluation of their own worth. Self-stigma and self-esteem affects a person’s perception about themselves and the society surrounding them which plays an important role in treatment. It is most commonly affected in people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.The aim was to study self-stigma and self-esteem in patients with anxiety and depression.After permission from Institutional ethics committee, semi-structured proforma, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory-9 and Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale was used to assess 50 consecutive participants diagnosed with anxiety and depression according to DSM-5 criteria. Participants satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The data collected was tabulated and analysed statistically and results and conclusions were drawn by using chi-square test, a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.Mean age of participants was 38.88 years with 64% females, majority being married, predominantly from urban background having education of at least secondary school certificate.19 participants were diagnosed with anxiety while 31 had depression.56% of the participants had high self-stigma and 54% participants had low self-esteem. There wasn’t any significant difference in percentages of high self-stigma and low self-esteem when compared between anxiety disorders and in depression. There were no significant socio-demographic or clinical correlates relating to self- stigma and self-esteem according to this study. It was observed that both high self-stigma and low self-esteem was significantly high in psychiatric patients. It was seen that low self- esteem was associated with high self-stigma and high self-esteem was associated with low self-stigma. Hence, steps must be taken to psycho-educate the patient and their family members in order to reduce self-stigma and help in increasing their self-esteem.

The Effectiveness of nurse-led PMTCT health education on self-stigma reduction among HIV-positive women in Mombasa County, Kenya

BACKGROUND 
 Stigma compromises the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. There is a critical knowledge gap on how to combat self-stigma among HIV-positives. the study assessed the effectiveness of nurse-led PMTCT health education on self-stigma reduction among HIV-positive women attending PMTCT antenatal clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya. 
 METHODOLOGY 
 The study used a two-group, quasi-experimental research design. All pregnant HIV-positive women of reproductive age (18-49) who attended PMTCT prenatal clinics at the selected Mombasa County healthcare facilities were included in the study. A nurse-led health education program on PMTCT was provided at the intervention location but not at the control site. The mean difference in the proportion of mothers who reported self-stigma between the intervention and control groups was computed using a chi-square statistic. To assess the effectiveness of nurse-led PMTCT health education intervention, the difference in difference (DiD) was conducted. 
 RESULT 
 Chi-square statistics indicated that there were significantly (χ2=151.096, df=1, p<0.001) more HIV-positive women with low self-stigma in the intervention group compared to the control group at the end-line survey. Nurse-led health education on PMTCT reduced the proportion of self-stigma in HIV-positive women from 62.1% to 10.6%. It thus reduced the proportion of self-stigma in HIV-positive women significantly by 82.6%. 
 CONCLUSION 
 Nurse-led PMTCT health education should be integrated with other interventional strategies aimed at reducing self-stigma among HIV-positive women attending PMTCT antenatal clinics

Evaluation of an online suicide prevention program to improve suicide literacy and to reduce suicide stigma: A mixed methods study.

Low-threshold e-health approaches in prevention to reduce suicide stigma are scarce. We developed an online program containing video reports on lived experience of suicide and evidence-based information on suicidality. We evaluated the program by a mixed methods design. We examined pre-post-changes of program completers (n = 268) in suicide literacy, suicide stigma (self and perceived), and self-efficacy expectation of being able to seek support in psychologically difficult situations using linear mixed models. To examine reported changes and helpful program elements 12-26 weeks after program completion, we content analyzed transcripts of telephone interviews (n = 16). Program completers showed more suicide literacy (Cohen's d = .74; p < .001), higher self-efficacy expectations to seek support (d = .09; p < .01), lower self-stigma (subscales glorification/normalization: d = -.13, p = .04; isolation/depression: d = -.14; p = .04; stigma: d = -.10; p = .07; n = 168) compared to baseline. We found no significant differences in perceived suicide stigma. We identified lived experience reports, the possibility of sharing own narrative on stigma and suicidality, and information on support as helpful elements. The current online program can increase suicide literacy and self-efficacy expectations to seek support and reduce self-stigma. We recommend a larger randomized controlled trial with longer follow-up to confirm these findings.

HIV Disclosure Among Sexually Infected People Living with HIV and AIDS in China: Prevalence, Influencing Factors, and Negative Outcomes.

HIV disclosure is crucial for HIV prevention and control, but may also lead to discrimination, insult, and even violence against people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs). In this study, we examined HIV disclosure, its influencing factors, and its association with intimate partner violence (IPV) among 1153 PLWHAs through the sexual route in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. Our results showed that 76.4% (881/1153) PLWHAs had disclosed someone about their HIV infection, the HIV disclosure rates among family members, friends, spouses, and current fixed partners of PLWHAs were 43.5% (501/1153), 47.9% (552/1153), 56.8% (129/227), and 43.2% (336/777), respectively. HIV disclosure was affected by socio-demographics, disease characteristics, and psycho-social factors and varied among family members, close friends, spouses, and current fixed sexual partners. Age ≤ 33years (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.27-2.53), heterosexual infection route (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.06-2.17), HIV diagnosis time > 36months (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.30-2.59), with other chronic diseases (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.34-2.61), lower self-stigma (aOR 4.03-4.36, 95% CI 1.98-8.74), higher social support (aOR 1.71-1.73, 95% CI 1.03-2.83), no depression (aOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.12-2.11), and no suicidal ideation (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.28-2.50) were all independently associated with increased likelihood of HIV disclosure. HIV disclosure was associated with an increased risk of IPV among current fixed sexual partners (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.38-2.54) and spouses (aOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.41-4.56). Our findings suggest that the HIV disclosure rate of PLWHAs is still low and is affected by multiple factors. There is an urgent need to design targeted and comprehensive interventions to improve HIV disclosure. IPV prevention should also be incorporated into the intervention system of HIV disclosure to ensure adequate and continuous support for PLWHAs.

Self-Stigma as The Trigger of Depression Factor in Multidrug - Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) Patients at a Public Hospital in Gresik

Introduction: Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a chronic infectious disease that can affect the patient's physical appearance so that it has an impact on the patient's psychosocial condition, including the emergence of anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression in MDR-TB patients have an impact on the patient's rejection of the diagnosis and they choose to stop the treatment process. The incidence of anxiety and depression in MDR-TB patients is influenced by several factors, one of which is self-stigma. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the factor of self-stigma on the incidence of depression in MDR-TB patients.Method: The study design used a cross-sectional approach with a sample of 71 MDR-TB patients undergoing treatment. The study used a questionnaire that was filled out directly by the patient during the treatment process. The sampling technique used purposive sampling by setting inclusion criteria. The bivariate statistical test used in the study was chi-square.Results: The results of the self-stigma study obtained a p-value = 0.000 &lt;0.05 with an OR value of 54.643, meaning that there was a significant relationship between self-stigma and depression in MDR-TB patients.Conclusions: MDR-TB patients with high self-stigma have a higher chance of experiencing depression than patients with low self-stigma. Suggestions in this study are that it is hoped that the family, health workers, community, and government can help reduce the stigma against patients with MDR-TB. Promotive efforts by providing support and education to the community can help to eliminate the stigma so that the incidence of depression in MDR-TB patients can be minimized.

Psychological safety in elite sport settings: a psychometric study of the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory.

ObjectivesEffectively supporting the mental health of elite athletes and coaches requires validated tools that assess not only individual-level factors but organisational-level influences. The aim of this study was to develop a bespoke scale assessing perceived psychological safety within high-performance environments.Methods337 elite athletes (M=24.12 years) and 238 elite-level coaches and high-performance support staff (HPSS; M=41.9 years) identified via the Australian Institute of Sport provided data across a range of mental health and well-being domains. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n=169 athletes) with parallel analysis identified the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory (SPSI) factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated the identified structure in separate validation subsamples of athletes (n=168) and coaches/HPSS (n=238).ResultsEFA identified the 11-item, 3-factor SPSI. Factors assessed domains of the Mentally Healthy Environment, Mental Health Literacy and Low Self-Stigma. All scale items loaded strongly on their specific domain. CFA model fit indices validated scale structure for athletes and coaches/HPSS. Internal consistency and convergent and divergent validity were evident. Logistic regression indicated that incrementally higher Mentally Healthy Environment scores reduced the likelihood of athletes scoring in the ‘moderate’ range of general and athlete-specific distress, with a stronger endorsement of the Low Self-Stigma subscale reducing the likelihood of being identified for athlete-specific distress.ConclusionPsychometric properties of the SPSI support scale utility among athletes and coaches/HPSS in elite sports settings, though further psychometric efforts are needed. This brief measure may support benchmarking efforts across elite sporting contexts to improve mental health culture and broader well-being among athletes and coaches/HPSS.

Military and Veteran help-seeking behaviors: Role of mental health stigma and leadership

ABSTRACT Mental health stigma has been identified as a barrier to help-seeking in the United States. This may be particularly salient for military personnel who tend to report higher mental health stigma than the general population. Evidence suggests that both supportive and destructive military leadership are related to service members’ attitudes toward seeking help. In the current study, a sample of military service members and Veterans (N = 232) completed an online survey regarding mental health stigma, previous experiences with military leaders, and mental health help-seeking behaviors. Findings indicated that destructive and supportive leadership experiences were significantly related to self stigma, public stigma, and help-seeking. Military members and Veterans who experienced destructive leadership were more likely to report internalized mental health stigma, which decreased the likelihood of seeking help. Supportive leadership, on the other hand, was associated with greater likelihood of seeking help for mental health concerns, and was indirectly related to help-seeking through lower self-stigma. Findings suggest that the military leadership style plays a significant role in service members’ and Veterans’ willingness to seek assistance for mental health concerns.

Diabetes-Related Stigma and its Influence on Social Networks, Social Support, and HbA1c in Ghana.

We applied a social network approach to examine if three types of diabetes-related stigma (self-stigma, perceived stigma and enacted stigma) moderated associations between social network characteristics (network size, kin composition, household composition, and network density), social support, and blood glucose among Ghanaians with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Data were obtained through a cross-sectional survey of 254 adults at a diabetes clinic in Ghana that assessed participants' social networks, social support, and frequency of experiencing three types of diabetes-related stigma. Self-stigma moderated associations between kin composition and social support when controlling for network size β=-.97, P=.004). Among study participants reporting low self-stigma, kin composition was positively associated with social support (β=1.29, P<.0001), but this association was not found among those reporting high self-stigma. Network size was positively associated with social support among participants reporting both low and high self-stigma. None of the types of diabetes-related stigma moderated other associations between social networks, social support, and blood glucose. Individuals with T2DM who report high self-stigma may have lower social support, which can reduce their capacity for disease management. Additionally, larger social networks may be beneficial for individuals with T2DM in countries like Ghana, and interventions that expand network resources may facilitate diabetes control.

The role of stigma during the course of inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment in a German sample.

The current study intends to investigate whether the therapeutic process is impeded by stigma and how stigma develops over the course of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy treatment. Sixty German psychotherapy inpatients were asked on a weekly basis about two facets of stigma: self-stigma and perceived public stigma. That information was linked to additional process as well as outcome variables (therapeutic engagement, working alliance, depressive, and general psychological symptoms). Both facets of stigma decreased over the course of psychotherapy, but only the decrease in self-stigma was significant. In a weekly interval, low (high) self-stigma predicted high (low) levels of working alliance and therapeutic engagement and vice versa. The current study shows that self-stigma is especially subject to change during the course of an inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment. In addition, our results point to the interrelation between self-stigma and other process variables contributing to the effectiveness and success of psychotherapy.

Determinants of quality of life among people living with HIV in the hilly region of Myanmar

The aim of this study was to determine quality of life and its associating factors among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the hilly region of Myanmar. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the National AIDS Program and Integrated HIV Care Program in Myanmar. A total of 326 PLHIV were recruited, of whom 49.1% had high QOL. Adherence to ART (AOR: 5.18; 95% CI: 2.02–13.31), high social capital (AOR: 3.16; 95% CI: 1.85–5.38), being male (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.27–3.83), asymptomatic (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.24–3.83), low self-stigma (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.61–5.04), and time spent at the clinic less than 30 min (AOR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.15–4.08) were significant predictors of quality of life (QOL) among PLHIV. This study revealed that social factors such as HIV stigma and gender issues are important determinants of QOL in addition to health service factors and clinical outcomes.

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.

Kako protov stigme i autostigme osoba s dijagnozom psihoze? Prikaz tretmana psihotičnih poremećaja u dva društvena konteksta

In this paper, we discuss the possibility of applying the psychodrama method in dealing with the stigmatized group of people with psychotic disorders. Despite many advances in pharmacy and psychotherapy, it is true that in the Western world there is still a marked stigma and discrimination against psychiatric patients. Our research question was whether the outcome could be different if the treatment of patients was performed in a manner different from that which is common in Western psychiatric practice? To answer this question, we describe the treatment and treatment outcomes for psychosis patients in Africa, and then outline how to reduce stigma and auto-stigma through psychodrama. The theoretical basis for this is Moreno's theory of roles as well as various theoretical views on the possibilities of the psychotherapy of psychoses. This step-by-step treatment has been shown to lead to learning new and more appropriate patterns of behavior, acquiring previously unpracticed social roles, and ultimately to increasing self-esteem, much like African psychotherapy. The final outcome of both approaches is similar to each other by the rituals they use and the permissions they give to patients to be authentic in their illness-without imposing normality from expert positions, low relapse rates, high social functionality and low self-stigma. It can be concluded that by considering the importance of social-psychological, sociological as well as socio-cultural aspects of mental disorders, it can significantly contribute to reducing discrimination and stigmatization of mentally ill people.

Three agendas for changing the public stigma of mental illness.

Antistigma programs may be guided by 3 differing agendas: services (promote treatment engagement), rights (help people achieve rightful goals), and self-worth (facilitate self-worth and efficacy). This study examined the construct validity of this perspective by examining the factor structure of importance ratings of the 3 agendas. The study examined how importance might be viewed differently by the population as a whole versus a subsample of people who reported previous experience with mental health services and hence could be directly harmed by stigma. 373 individuals recruited using Mechanical Turk completed importance ratings for each of the 3 agendas. Measures of public stigma were completed to examine concurrent validity of importance ratings. Those who reported taking medications for a psychiatric disorder were divided into a separate group and completed a measure of self-stigma. Outcomes seemed to confirm the factor structure of the 3 agendas model thereby offering partial support for the framework. Group analyses showed the services agenda was viewed as more important than rights or self-worth. People with mental health experience viewed the services agenda as more important than the other 2. However, dividing the mental health group into low and high self-stigma revealed that those with low self-stigma rated the rights agenda as more important. Conclusions and Implication for Practice: Participants with lower self-stigma identify the harm brought by stigma and thus endorse rights and self-worth more than those with higher self-stigma. Implications of these findings are discussed to assist to prioritize agendas for public health campaigns. (PsycINFO Database Record

Comparisons of the Clinical Variables between High and Low Self-Stigma Group in the Outpatients with Schizophrenia

Comparisons of the Clinical Variables between High and Low Self-Stigma Group in the Outpatients with Schizophrenia

Coping with information style and family burden: Possible roles of self-stigma and hope among parents of children in a psychiatric inpatient unit

ObjectiveParents of children who are hospitalized in inpatient psychiatric units must cope with significant challenges. One of these challenges relates to the way in which they cope with illness-related information. The current study examined the relationship between two such coping styles – monitoring and blunting – and family burden among parents of children in a psychiatric inpatient unit. Moreover, the possible moderating roles played by hope and self-stigma in these associations were also examined. MethodsQuestionnaires regarding coping with information style, self-stigma, hope and family burden were administered to 70 parents. ResultsA main positive effect of hope and a main negative effect of self-stigma were uncovered. An interaction between self-stigma and monitoring was also revealed, suggesting that for parents with high self-stigma, compared to those with low self-stigma, more monitoring was related to more burden. ConclusionsTailoring family interventions according to coping style and self-stigma is highly recommended as a mean to reduce the family burden of parents whose child is hospitalized in a psychiatric inpatient unit.

Explanatory model of psychosis: impact on perception of self-stigma by patients in three sub-saharan African cities.

Most cultures in sub-Saharan Africa subscribe to the belief that the root cause of psychosis is supernatural. Individuals in the community who hold a religiomagical explanatory model of causation have been shown to exhibit more stigmatizing attitudes towards people with psychosis. Self-stigma among individuals with psychosis is less frequently studied. We used a mixed-method approach, consisting of key informant's interviews to elicit information on explanatory models of causation of psychosis and questionnaire assessment of internalized stigma with an adapted version of the Scale for Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness. Twenty-four, 31, and 30 subjects with recent experience of utilizing the service of traditional or faith healers for severe mental disorders in Ibadan (Nigeria), Kumasi (Ghana), and Nairobi (Kenya), respectively, were interviewed. About 44% (42.1%) of the Nigerian respondents had a high (severe) level of self-stigma with the respective proportions among Ghanaian and Kenyan respondents being 20.7 and 37.5%. Compared with 4 out of a total of 12 respondents (33.3%) who reported low self-stigma reported supernatural attribution, 14 out of 20 respondents (70%) with the highest level of self-stigma reported supernatural attribution across the three sites. When low scorers ascribed supernatural causation, it was often with a religious focus. There is a greater tendency for persons with high levels of self-stigma than those with low levels to ascribe supernatural attribution to their experience of a severe mental health condition.

Coping strategies and self-stigma in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

BackgroundMaladaptive coping strategies may adversely disturb the overall functioning of people with mental disorders. Also, self-stigma is considered a maladaptive psychosocial phenomenon that can affect many areas of patient life. It has a negative impact on self-image, and may lead to dysphoria, social isolation, reduced adherence, using of negative coping strategies, and lower quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between coping strategies and self-stigma among persons with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.Subjects and methodsA total of 104 clinically stable outpatients with chronic schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded. Patients were examined by psychiatrists with the Stress Coping Style Questionnaire, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, and the Clinical Global Impression scale. Correlation and multiple-regression analyses were performed to discover contributing factors to self-stigma.ResultsPositive coping strategies were used by patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders to the same extent as in the healthy population. Negative coping strategies were overused by these patients. There were significant associations between self-stigma, severity of the disorder, and coping strategies in schizophrenia. The ability to use positive coping strategies was connected with lower self-stigma. Use of negative coping strategies predominantly increased the self-stigma of patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionThis study revealed a significant association among self-stigma, severity of the disorder, and coping strategies in individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Thinking about coping strategies and self-stigma in practice may play a significant role in understanding people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, especially for mental health professionals.