Self-stigma Of Mental Illness Research Articles

Middle Eastern Americans: The Effects of Stigma on Attitudes Toward Counseling

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of self-stigma of mental illness on the relationship between perceived public stigma of mental illness and attitudes toward counseling. One hundred and two Middle Eastern Americans from universities across the United States participated in the study. Path analysis consisting of multiple regressions revealed that mediation was not met. However, results revealed that participants with greater levels of self-stigma exhibited more negative attitudes toward counseling. Implications for theory, practice, and research are discussed.

Measuring Self-Stigma of Mental Illness in China and Its Implications for Recovery

This study translated and validated the Chinese Version of the Self-stigma of Mental Illness Scale (CSSMIS), which may be used to measure self-stigma of mental health consumers in China. We also examined its correlation with self-esteem, self-efficacy and psychosocial treatment compliance. A cross-sectional observational study was implemented. Some 51 males and 57 females who suffered from severe mental illness were recruited from psychiatric settings in Hong Kong. They were required to complete the Chinese Version of the Self-stigma of Mental Illness Scale, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and the Self-efficacy Scale. Their level of compliance during psychosocial treatment and their demographic information were recorded by their case managers. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two homologous factors for the four subscales of the CSSMIS. Factor 1 was related to the negative beliefs and consequences of having mental disorders, whereas Factor 2 was related to positive beliefs. The perceived stigma subscale and the three self-stigma subscales were strongly inter-correlated. Significant correlations were also found between almost all subscales of the CSSMIS and the remaining scales. The psychometric properties of the CSSMIS are statistically acceptable. The results also suggest that stigma played a detrimental role in undermining self-esteem, self-efficacy and psychosocial treatment compliance. Implications for recovery of mental health consumers are discussed.

Impact of Consumer-Operated Services on Empowerment and Recovery of People With Psychiatric Disabilities

Although the professional literature is replete with descriptions of consumer-operated services, empirical examination of these services has been relatively limited. In this study, the cross-sectional relationship between participation in consumer-operated services and measures of recovery and empowerment is examined. A total of 1,824 people with psychiatric disability indicated whether they had participated in a peer support program (the proxy of consumer-operated services) during the past four months. They also were administered two five-factor measures of recovery and of empowerment. Participation in peer support was associated with nine of ten factors generated by the recovery and empowerment instruments. These associations remained significant when commensurate demographic variables were controlled for. Participation in peer support showed a significant association with multiple outcome and recovery subscales, but the magnitude of the effect was small. The associative nature of the data precludes stating that peer support caused the observed improvement.