The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of experiential avoidance in relationships between triangling configurations (balanced, mediator, cross‐generational coalition, ...scapegoating), anxiety, and negative self‐image (NS). The study sample comprised 381 university students. Data were collected from these participants using the Triangular Relationship Inventory (TRI), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire‐II (AAQ‐II), the Negative Self and Anxiety Subscales of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and a demographic information form. Findings of the structural equation modelling analyses revealed that triangling configurations and experiential avoidance (together) explained 36% of the variance in negative self and 44% of the variance in anxiety. Regarding indirect effects, it was found that experiential avoidance fully mediated the relationships between triangling configurations (except scapegoating), NS, and anxiety. The mediator type of triangling was found to play a protective role against NS and anxiety—the literature delineates the study findings.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disproportionately affects the Southern United States, accounting for approximately 46% of people living with HIV. HIV-related stigma is recognized as a barrier to ...testing, treatment, and prevention efforts. However, little is known about HIV-related stigma experiences in Florida. Using data collected from the Florida Medical Monitoring Project, we sought to examine individual characteristics associated with HIV-related stigma.
We analyzed secondary data from the 2015-2016 Medical Monitoring Project in Florida (n = 603). Stigma was measured using the 10-item HIV Stigma Scale. Exploratory factor analysis of the HIV Stigma Scale revealed three subscales: negative self-image, anticipated, and personalized stigma. Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to determine the individual characteristics associated with the HIV Stigma Scale.
Multivariate analysis indicated that people with severe depression scores (OR: 3.13; CI: 1.38-7.13) and persons with disability (OR: 1.64; CI: 1.03-2.61) had significantly increased odds of higher overall stigma. In the subscale analyses, negative self-image was significantly associated with alcohol misuse (OR: 2.02; CI: 1.15-3.56) depression (OR: 2.81; CI: 1.38-5.72) and/or those who identify as homosexual (OR: 0.54; CI: 0.31-0.93). Anticipated stigma was significantly associated with people who had mild-moderate depression (OR: 3.03; CI: 1.20-7.65), severe depression (OR: 2.87; CI: 1.38-5.98), identified as Black (OR: 0.60; CI: 0.37-0.98), non-injection drug use (OR: 0.55; CI: 0.33-0.91), and/or people aged 50 years and older (OR: 0.28; CI: 0.09-0.82). Personalized stigma was not associated with any of the variables examined.
The implications of these findings reveal that certain individuals are more vulnerable to stigma. Researchers could consider distinct stigma interventions strategies based on the characteristics of specific individuals (i.e., targeting depression, disability, sexual orientation, avoidant coping, racial/ethnic groups, and youth) in Florida.
Using data collected from the Florida Medical Monitoring Project, we sought to compare the prevalence of overall HIV-related stigma, including its subdimensions among persons with HIV and ...disability(s) and persons with HIV without disability in Florida. Disability was classified as having difficulty in one or more areas: activity limitations, participation restrictions, and functional or sensory activities. HIV-related stigma was assessed using the HIV Stigma Scale, which measures (1) overall stigma (2) negative self-image, (3) personalized, and (4) anticipated stigma. Multivariate analysis indicates that the crude prevalence ratios of overall stigma, including negative self-image, personalized, and anticipated stigma among persons with HIV and disability(s) were 1.43, 1.24, 1.20, and 1.23 compared to persons with HIV without disability, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the prevalence ratios of HIV-related stigma ranged from 1.33-1.07 among persons with HIV and disability(s) compared to persons with HIV without disability. The implications of these findings reveal that persons with HIV and disability(s) are more vulnerable to HIV-related stigma. Researchers could consider distinct stigma interventions tailored towards persons with HIV and disability(s) in Florida.
HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is the foremost barrier to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. The aim of this study was to identify the perceived stigma level ...of PLWHA and its relation with selected demographic and situational factors in Pokhara, Nepal.
Cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 282 PLWHA after probability sampling from antiretroviral treatment center of Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. Face-to-face interview was taken by using Bunn standard HSS tool. Stigma was measured in terms of felt stigma (public attitude concern PAC, disclosure concern DC, negative self-image NSI), enacted stigma ES, as well as overall stigma.
The mean score of PAC, DC, NSI, ES, and overall stigma was 3.09, 3.02, 2.79, 1.66, and 2.52, respectively, where mean score of all domains of felt stigma (PAC, DC, and NSI) was >2.5, thus reflecting a higher level of felt stigma. ANOVA and
-test revealed higher level of overall stigma among younger age group (
<0.001), highly educated group (
=0.007), unmarried group (
<0.001), and recently HIV-diagnosed group (
=0.003).
The study suggests high level of felt stigma, which has devastating effects on PLWHA as well as leads to nondisclosure of sero-positive status. So considering the significant impact of felt stigma on control of HIV epidemic, it is important to have a broader comprehension of this phenomenon and its repercussions on PLWHA via timely intervention like better educational intervention and counseling to PLWHA, wide-scale societal awareness campaigns, and more focused local interventions.
Previous studies have indicated that people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) often experience spontaneous, recurrent images (SRI). It was assumed that Koreans with interdependent self-views may ...contain more features related to social contexts in their self-images than those reported in Western cultures.
In the present study, we aimed to explore the prevalence and content of SRIs in individuals with SAD in Korea. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between features of SRIs and variables of SAD.
Sixty-four individuals with SAD (27.00 ± 7.42 years, 64.1% female), diagnosed with SAD, completed self-report questionnaires related to social anxiety. Afterwards, a semi-structured interview was used to assess features and content of the individuals' SRI.
Thirty (47%) of the participants reported experiencing SRIs in social situations. The content of the SRIs were classified under three themes: negative self-images, negative images of others, and abstract images. The distress level of SRIs was positively associated with social phobia scales (r = .385, p < .05) and physical anxiety symptoms (r = .478, p < .05). Frequency of SRIs was positively associated with avoidance scores (r = .402, p < .05).
The results demonstrated differences in the prevalence and content of the SRIs between Western and non-Western cultures. Fewer individuals with SAD in Korea reported having SRIs, and the content of these SRIs involved people other than the self. Some features of SRIs were associated with variables of SAD.
Present study was conducted to develop and validate an Indigenous scale to assess the stressors experienced by obese people in different domains of their lives. Mixed method design and purposive ...sampling technique was used. A list of 29 items was generated after thorough review of the literature and from the details of the interviews conducted with the participants. Validation from expert clinical psychologists was obtained. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblimin rotation was run on a sample of 300 participants for current study. Confirmatory factor analysis on a separate sample of 400 participants yielded a good model fit and validated three-factor structure with fit indices ? 2 = 807.45 (df = 320, N = 300), p < .05, RMSEA = .062, CFI = .91 and TLI = .88. The Cronbach alpha valuewas.86 indicating strong internal consistency of the scale. The distress and Well-being subscales of Mental Health Inventory were utilized to assess the convergent and divergent Validity which yielded positive and negative correlation respectively affirming Stressor Scale for Obese people as a valid construct. The study is an initial step to highlight and understand the stressors experienced by obese people and its severity level. This will help doctors and mental health professional to devise effective management of obesity.
This study was to elucidate clinical factors influencing resilience in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients.
Twenty female patients with AN (median age =30.0 years, quartile deviation =6.8) and 40 female ...healthy controls (HCs) (median age =30.0 years, quartile deviation =8.6) participated in the present study. Resilience was assessed with the Connor- Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC). Clinical symptoms were evaluated with the structured interview guide for the Hamilton depression rating scale (SIGH-D) and the eating disorder inventory-2 (EDI-2).
Scores of the CD-RISC in the AN group were lower than those in the HC group, and the SIGH-D score in the AN group was higher than that in the HC group. Scores of interoceptive confusion, interpersonal difficulty and negative self-image subscales of the EDI-2 negatively correlated with the CD-RISC score. Moreover, stepwise regression analysis showed that negative self-image score was an independent predictor of the CD-RISC score.
These results suggest that among these clinical factors including psychopathologies, self-dissatisfaction and feeling of being rejected by others are the most important influencing factors on an AN patients' resilience.
The study investigated correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among 673 HIV-positive women from rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age 28 years old, SD = 5.73 years). The women ...completed measures of HIV-related stigma experience and related personal factors. Following multivariable logistic regression, results showed that lack of male involvement during the ante-natal visits was significantly associated with all four perceived HIV-related stigma factors. Lower income, intimate partner violence (IPV), lower education, and experienced HIV-related stigma were associated with a combination of the four components of perceived HIV-related stigma. From these findings, we conclude that higher levels of education, income, and partner involvement are protective factors against perceived HIV-related stigma, at multiple layers. Improving on adult education and income generating activities can help in reducing HIV-related stigma. Male partner involvement in their partner's pregnancy, the initiation of support groups for both women and men, as well as community-based IPV prevention interventions may help to reduce perceived HIV-related stigma among women living with HIV.