Background
We summarize research on the public stigmatization of persons with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in comparison with other mental health conditions and embed the results into a conceptual ...framework of the stigma process.
Methods
We conducted a systematic search using Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed and PsycINFO (via Ovid), and Web of Science for population‐based studies on the public stigma in AUD and at least 1 other mental health condition, published between October 1, 2010 and December 20, 2020, thus including all studies published since the last systematic review on this topic. The study is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020173054).
Results
We identified 20,561 records, of which 24 met the inclusion criteria, reporting results from 16 unique studies conducted in 9 different countries. Compared to substance‐unrelated mental disorders, persons with AUD were generally less likely to be considered mentally ill, while they were perceived as being more dangerous and responsible for their condition. Further, the public desire for social distance was consistently higher for people with AUD. We found no consistent differences in the public stigma toward persons with AUD in comparison with other substance use disorders.
Conclusion
The stigmatization of persons with AUD remains comparatively high and is distinct from that of other substance‐unrelated disorders.
We summarise the literature on the stigma of alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared to other mental health conditions published in the last decade. The results of the 24 identified reports suggest that the stigmatisation of people with AUD remains comparatively high and distinct from that of other substance‐unrelated disorders. This was evident in almost all stigma aspects studied, including labelling AUD a mental illness, perceiving those affected as dangerous or responsible for their condition, and a greater desire for social distance.
Older adults are especially unlikely to seek mental health services, and internalized stigma is a key reason why. However, little research has investigated which older adults are particularly likely ...to have stigma influence help-seeking. To address this, we tested whether perceived control (PC) moderates an internalized stigma model in which public stigma is internalized as self-stigma, which negatively predicts help-seeking attitudes and help-seeking intentions. We employed moderated mediation analysis of cross-sectional, secondary data from 348 psychologically distressed Canadian adults aged 65 years and older. Participants completed an online survey that included measures of public stigma of help-seeking, self-stigma of help-seeking, help-seeking attitudes, conditional help-seeking intentions, psychological distress, and PC. PC emerged as a moderator of the internalized stigma model. Those lower in PC were more likely to have public stigma negatively predict help-seeking intentions through the serial mediation of (a) self-stigma and (b) help-seeking attitudes. Further, those lower in PC were more likely to have public stigma internalized as self-stigma and more likely to have negative help-seeking attitudes predict lower help-seeking intentions. Finally, those lower in PC also had lower help-seeking intentions in the face of low levels of self-stigma. These results contribute to a nuanced understanding of which older adults are unlikely to seek help. Identifying PC as a moderator of the internalized stigma model suggests that interventions that enhance PC should protect against public stigma's internalization and improve help-seeking behaviors for older adults who need such help. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Background:
The studies and case reports from various parts of the world are showing discrimination and stigma associated with COVID-19. Stigma can directly worsen the mental health of people and ...also worsen physical health indirectly. This study is aimed to assess the anticipatory and experienced stigma associated with COVID-19 in affected individuals.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Palakkad District in Kerala. Study participants were patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The sampling method was convenience sampling and snowball sampling. COVID-19 Related Stigma Survey Questionnaire was prepared by experts from the field of Psychiatry and Community Medicine. The responses were collected via an online survey and telephonic interview.
Results:
Among the total participants (N=303) 119 participants (39.3%) wanted to keep the illness a secret. Eighty-one participants (26.7%) had fear of discrimination from others. Eighty-nine participants (29.4%) had experienced stigma related to their COVID-19 infection. Seventy-five (24.8%) participants’ family members had experienced stigma. Few stigma parameters were significantly higher among the younger people. The participants belonging to the below poverty line category and the participants with lesser education showed significantly more worry about rejoining society after the isolation. Below poverty line category also had significantly more worry about discrimination towards their family members. Participants with lower education had significantly more worry about affecting their job due to the illness. Health care workers had significantly high worry regarding others attitudes towards them.
Conclusion:
There is a high level of stigma associated with COVID-19 in society. Definite measures need to be taken to reduce the stigma related to COVID-19 infection.
Background:
Health care providers are an important target group for anti-stigma interventions because they have the potential to convey stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental illness. This ...can have a detrimental impact on the quality and effectiveness of care provided to those affected by mental illness.
Aims and methods:
Whittemore & Knafl’s integrative review method (2005) was used to analyze 16 studies investigating anti-stigma interventions targeting health care providers.
Results:
The interventions predominantly involved contact-based educational approaches which ranged from training on mental health (typically short-term), showing videos or films (indirect social contact) to involving people with lived experiences of mental illness (direct social contact). A few studies focused on interventions involving educational strategies without social contact, such as mental health training (courses/modules), distance learning via the Internet, lectures, discussion groups, and simulations. One study investigated an online anti-stigma awareness-raising campaign that aimed to reduce stigmatizing attitudes among health care providers.
Conclusion:
Anti-stigma interventions that involve social contact between health care providers and people with mental illness, target specific mental illnesses and include long-term follow-up strategies seem to be the most promising at reducing stigma towards mental illness among health care providers.
Background:
Stigma and discrimination have been associated with different diseases and pandemics, with negative consequences for the people who suffered them and for their communities. Currently, ...COVID-19 has become a new source of stigmatization.
Aims:
The aim of the present study is to analyze longitudinally the evolution of intersectional perceived discrimination and internalized stigma among the general population of Spain, at three points in time throughout the confinement.
Method:
Participants completed an online survey.
Results:
Results show an increase in both variables from the first to the second evaluation, and a slight decrease from the second to the third evaluation. Moreover, these changes are explained by depression, anxiety and family support.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate the factors that need to be considered to reduce the perception of discrimination and the internalization of stigma, and their detrimental consequences, during an especially stressful event such as the current pandemic outbreak.
Treatments have been developed and tested to successfully reduce the symptoms and disabilities of many mental illnesses. Unfortunately, people distressed by these illnesses often do not seek out ...services or choose to fully engage in them. One factor that impedes care seeking and undermines the service system is mental illness stigma. In this article, we review the complex elements of stigma in order to understand its impact on participating in care. We then summarize public policy considerations in seeking to tackle stigma in order to improve treatment engagement. Stigma is a complex construct that includes public, self, and structural components. It directly affects people with mental illness, as well as their support system, provider network, and community resources. The effects of stigma are moderated by knowledge of mental illness and cultural relevance. Understanding stigma is central to reducing its negative impact on care seeking and treatment engagement. Separate strategies have evolved for counteracting the effects of public, self, and structural stigma. Programs for mental health providers may be especially fruitful for promoting care engagement. Mental health literacy, cultural competence, and family engagement campaigns also mitigate stigma's adverse impact on care seeking. Policy change is essential to overcome the structural stigma that undermines government agendas meant to promote mental health care. Implications for expanding the research program on the connection between stigma and care seeking are discussed.
Purpose
This study describes patterns of community-level stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness (MI) in central Mozambique.
Methods
Data for this study come from a representative community ...household survey of 2933 respondents ≥ 18 years old in Manica and Sofala Provinces, Mozambique. Six MI stigma questions represented primary research outcomes. Bivariate and multivariable analyses examined the relationship between key explanatory factors and each stigma question. Spatial analyses analyzed the smoothed geographic distribution of responses to each question and explored the association between geographic location and MI stigma controlling for individual-level socio-demographic factors.
Results
Stigmatizing attitudes towards MI are prevalent in central Mozambique. Analyses showed that males, people who live in urban places, divorced and widowed individuals, people aged 18–24, people with lower education, people endorsing no religion, and people in lower wealth quintiles tended to have significantly higher levels of stigmatizing attitudes towards MI. Individuals reporting depressive symptoms scored significantly higher on stigmatizing questions, potentially indicating internalized stigma. Geographic location is significantly associated with people’s response to five of the stigma questions even after adjusting for individual-level factors.
Conclusion
Stigmatizing attitudes towards MI are common in central Mozambique and concentrated amongst specific socio-demographic groups. However, geographic analyses suggest that structural factors within communities and across regions may bear a greater influence on MI stigma than individual-level factors alone. Further implementation science should consider focusing on identifying the most significant modifiable structural factors associated with MI stigma in LMICs to inform the development, testing, and optimization of multi-level stigma prevention interventions.
The aim of the work was to study the severity and structure of self-stigma in relatives ofpsychotic patients. The study recruited 34 people who take care for patients with psychotic disorders (F2 and ...F3 according to ICD-10). Among them: 26-parents of patients (26-mothers), 4-spouses, 3- siblings and 1 child. The socio-demographic data of patients’ relatives were collected, for self-stigma evaluation was used SSI-F (Self-Stigma Family Inventory), which allows assessing the severity and structure of the family self-stigma. As a result, of the study, it was found that the intensity (by sub-scales and general point) of the caregivers did not threshold the mean score 2,5. The majority of respondents (76,5%) were patients’ parents and in 67,7% — were mothers. The differences in structure and overall intensity in different groups (gender, age, family position, employment and presence of other persons for care (children)) were found. Mild positive correlation between subscale social withdrawal (SSI-F) and age was observed. Discussed: general self-stigma vulnerability in groups of mothers and in persons over 50 years of age were higher, than in other relatives’ groups; sensitivity of internal stigma formation in spouses, working persons and relatives taking care with other family members,including children, had specific features.
This study aims to investigate the development and consequences of the internalized stigma (IS) explicitly and implicitly assessed, in relation to a longer time seeking professional help, avoidance ...of talking about the mental illness, self-esteem and general health perception. A structural equation model was developed in a clinical sample with heterogeneous psychiatric diagnoses (
N
= 160). Results show that not talking about the illness and taking longer to ask for professional help is related to a higher IS, leading to poorer self-esteem and general health. Time in asking for help also has impact on the self-esteem, with the IS as a mediator between both variables. The self-esteem also mediates the negative relationship between IS and general health. Additionally, implicit IS has direct negative effects over self-esteem. The research underlines the important relationship between these psychosocial variables and IS. More studies are needed about implicit IS in order to better understand its effects and relationship with explicit IS and other relevant variables. Efforts should be made to encourage professional help and talking about mental illness in order to prevent IS, as well as interventions focused on damaged self-esteem to reduce its impact.
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