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Stigma and Health
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ISSN (Print) 2376-6972 - ISSN (Online) 2376-6964
Published by APA

[89 journals]

“Building that strong energy”: An exploration of stigma coping
strategies among sexual and gender minorities in Nigeria.
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  Abstract: Sexual and gender minority stigma (SGM stigma) affecting Nigerian SGM is associated with suboptimal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outcomes, and one mechanism found to explain the relationship is suicidal ideation. A better understanding of coping strategies may help mitigate the harmful impacts of SGM stigma. Interviews of 25 SGM from Abuja, Nigeria participating in the TRUST/RV368 study were thematically analyzed in regards to how they coped with SGM stigma. Four coping themes emerged: Avoidant behaviors, self-monitoring so as to not attract stigma, seeking support and safe spaces to be themselves, and empowerment and self-acceptance through a process of cognitive change. They utilized multiple coping strategies, often believing that stigma could be avoided through the right actions and a masculine appearance. Multilevel and person-centered interventions that increase safety and support, facilitate resiliency, and improve mental health and engagement in HIV programming could mitigate the effects of SGM stigma and coping responses of isolation, blame, and mental health stressors among Nigerian SGM. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000319
Examining hopelessness as a link between discrimination and depression
among Latinx women: A brief report.
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  Abstract: Rates of major depression disorder are consistently twice as high for Latinx women compared to Latinx men. Some researchers suggested double rates are due to increased life stress, such as ethnic and sexist discrimination. The current study sought to explore the role of hopelessness as an underlying link between discrimination and depression symptoms among Latinx women. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 309 Latinx women recruited from community and university settings using online and in-person recruitment strategies. Participants completed self-report measures at one-time point. Age, nativity, income, method of recruitment, mode of survey (e.g., online or paper-and-pencil), and language of survey were added as covariates. Simple mediation analyses revealed that hopelessness (indirect effect = .67, SE = .30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [.10, 1.30]) uniquely linked ethnic discrimination and depression symptoms. Additionally, hopelessness (indirect effect = .62, SE = .23, 95% CI = [.20, 1.10]) uniquely linked sexist discrimination and depression symptoms. Hopelessness mediated discrimination and depression symptoms among Latinx women, suggesting that the hopelessness theory of depression extends to discriminatory experiences among Latinx women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 06 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000289
Effects of affirming values on self-compassion and mental health treatment
stigma.
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  Abstract: Stigma surrounding mental disorders deters many people from treatment, and prior studies have shown that internalization of stigma is inversely correlated with self-compassion. We examined the effect of a values-affirmation task shown to increase state self-compassion on attitudes about mental disorders and their treatment. Participants completed measures of their mental health attitudes and experiences prior to a values-affirming writing task or control writing task, and afterward completed measures of state self-compassion, attitudes about mental disorders, and treatment. Participants in the values-affirming condition showed significantly higher state self-compassion and lower levels of desired social distance and internalized stigma toward people with mental disorders, relative to the control condition. Significant interactions also showed that affirmation of values was effective in decreasing internalized treatment stigma and increasing willingness to seek help among those high in perceived public stigma and among those with positive attitudes about treatment. These findings suggest that interventions that focus on affirming values increase self-compassion, reduce stigma surrounding mental disorders, and also reduce stigma about mental health treatment among individuals for whom perceived public stigma is a treatment barrier. Our study extends previous research showing that affirming values increase self-compassionate and pro-social responses, to show that it can help reduce stigmatizing views of mental disorders and their treatment, in both the self and others. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000307
Analyzing U.S. tweets for stigma against people experiencing homelessness.
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  Abstract: Rising homelessness in the United States has been a considerable source of concern, with policymakers and community members calling for “solutions.” Stigma, as a societal barrier to addressing inequity, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and presents a barrier to the proposed solutions. Given that using surveys to study stigma against PEH carries potential social desirability bias, our research team used Twitter, a microblogging platform comprised of 140-character messages (aka, tweets), to get a snapshot of how American Twitter users stigmatize PEH. We conducted a content analysis of 6,400 tweets regarding homelessness collected over 3 months. Our analysis was informed by Erving Goffman’s theoretical framework regarding stigma. Consistent with Goffman’s work, we illustrate the ways that Twitter users rationalized the situation of PEH by creating a “stigma theory,” in which they attribute undesirable characteristics to PEH, highlight the multiple ways in which they “deserve” to be homeless because of their character flaws, and emphasize their devalued “bottom of the heap” status. We describe the ways that this stigma theory of homelessness is expressed in tweets regarding interactions between PEH and housed individuals. Complementing Goffman’s work as applied to PEH, we also describe the ways in which Twitter users impute additional stigmatized identities onto PEH and the role that disgust plays in stigma against PEH. Our findings suggest the need for a multi-level response to stigma, including addressing stigma at the individual and structural levels and providing housing to PEH across communities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000251
Deciding to disclose: The role of identity when “coming out
proud”.
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  Abstract: Previous research has indicated that “coming out proud” is generally linked to reduced self-stigma of mental illness, but moderating factors need additional study. The present study investigated a moderated moderation model, testing whether identity centrality and positive regard of mental illness moderated the relation between disclosing one’s mental illness and mental illness self-stigma. Students (N = 364) who reported severe distress or a previous diagnosis of a mental illness completed a series of questionnaires assessing the disclosure of their mental illness, centrality of mental illness to their identity, positive regard of their mental illness, and self-stigma of mental illness. Although main effects indicated that viewing mental illness as a central aspect of one’s identity was linked to greater self-stigma, disclosing one’s mental illness and viewing it positively were associated with lower self-stigma. Results of a moderated moderation analysis indicated that identity centrality and positive regard moderated the negative association between disclosing one’s mental illness and reporting self-stigma of mental illness. The hypotheses were supported as results showed the hypothesized model was statistically significant: Participants who held their mental illness as central to their identity and had high positive regard for it, reported lower self-stigma if they had disclosed their mental illness to a greater extent. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 22 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000298
The role of partner gender in bisexual men’s stigma-related experiences
and mental health: Results from a probability-based sample in the United
States.
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  Abstract: Bisexual men are disproportionately affected by negative mental health outcomes compared to heterosexual and gay men. These disparities are related to the unique stressors that they experience, and emerging evidence suggests that their experiences of these stressors can be different depending on the gender of their partner. However, previous studies have largely focused on bisexual women and little is known about the role of partner gender in bisexual men’s experiences and mental health. We examined the associations between relationship type and outness, stigma-related experiences, and mental health using data from Wave 1 of the National Study of Stigma and Sexual Health, a probability-based sample of 502 gay and bisexual men in the U.S. Analyses focused on the subset of 128 men who identified as bisexual (44.53% in relationships with women, 14.84% in relationships with men, 40.63% not in relationships). Bisexual men in relationships with men reported being more out than those in relationships with women and those who were not in relationships; furthermore, bisexual men in relationships with men reported more discrimination and family stress than those in relationships with women. Bisexual men who were not in relationships reported more anticipated and internalized stigma than those in relationships with men; additionally, bisexual men who were not in relationships reported more anticipated stigma and depression than those in relationships with women. Partner gender plays a role in bisexual men’s stigma-related experiences and mental health, and efforts to improve bisexual men’s health should attend to sexual orientation, relationship status, and partner gender. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 15 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000297
The role of emotion dysregulation in the association between substance use
stigma and depressive symptoms among trauma-exposed, substance-using
individuals.
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  Abstract: Despite the well-documented association between experiences of substance use stigma and adverse mental health outcomes, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. Utilizing a community sample of substance-using adults who have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, the current study examined the role of dysregulation stemming from both negative and positive emotions in the relation between substance use stigma and depressive symptoms. Community participants (N = 320, 46.9% women) completed self-report measures of substance-use-related stigma experiences, negative and positive emotion dysregulation, and depressive symptoms. Results showed that, adjusting for gender and substance use severity, substance use stigma was positively associated with emotion dysregulation, which in turn related to depressive symptoms. Substance use stigma was also found to be indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through emotion dysregulation, suggesting that emotion dysregulation accounted for the significant association between substance use stigma and depressive symptoms. These findings provide initial support for the role of emotion dysregulation as a mechanism through which stigma operates to undermine the mental health of substance-using, trauma-exposed individuals. Results underscore the potential utility of targeting emotion dysregulation in intervention efforts that are designed to facilitate stigma coping among individuals who use alcohol and/or drugs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 15 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000313
When mom has depression: Feelings of maternal responsibility, regard, and
personal stigma among young adults.
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  Abstract: The term “personal stigma” refers to negative attributions and stigmatized beliefs that a person holds toward individuals coping with mental illness. Although much has been written about the adverse impact of stigma for people with mental illness and their families, relatively little is known about factors related to family members own views of personal stigma toward people with mental illness. Using a sample of 172 young adult children of whose mother was diagnosed with depression, the present study examined the role of young adults’ reports of their own depressive symptoms, frequency of maternal contact, and feelings of maternal regard and responsibility in their reports of personal stigma toward people with depression. Results of hierarchical regression analyses suggest that young adults’ feelings of maternal responsibility and regard were significantly related to personal stigma toward depression, regardless of the frequency of maternal contact and young adults’ own depressive symptoms. Overall, the higher levels of maternal responsibility were associated with adults’ reports of higher levels of personal stigma, whereas higher levels of maternal regard were generally associated with lower levels of personal stigma. Implications for the future research on mental health stigma are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000259
The intersectionality of criminality and substance use self-stigmas.
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  Abstract: Research has consistently demonstrated that a substantial number of individuals in the criminal justice system struggle with substance misuse. Furthermore, rates of relapse and recidivism among this population are high. One challenge facing this population is self-stigma, the process in which negative stereotypes and public perceptions about an aspect of one’s identity are internalized onto one’s sense of self. Self-stigma has been shown to have negative implications for both individuals in the criminal justice system and individuals with substance use concerns, including reduced self-efficacy, self-esteem, and treatment engagement. Thus far, however, few, if any studies have examined the intersecting effects of criminality self-stigma and substance use self-stigma. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to examine how criminality self-stigma and substance use self-stigma individually and collectively predicted self-esteem, drug avoidance self-efficacy, and treatment engagement. A sample of 912 previously incarcerated adults with a history of substance misuse completed several online self-report measures. Findings suggested that substance use and criminality self-stigmas both individually and collectively predicted self-esteem and treatment engagement, and substance use self-stigma and the interaction effect predicted drug avoidance self-efficacy. Additional findings and implications for future treatment and prevention efforts are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 04 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000293
Prospective predictors of work limitations in young adult lesbian and
bisexual women: An examination of minority stress, trauma exposure, and
mental health.
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  Abstract: Trauma exposure and mental health problems adversely affect work functioning. Sexual minority women are at increased risk for trauma exposure, depression, and PTSD. Sexual minority women also experience unique stressors related to their sexual orientation, which can directly impact work functioning. However, little research to date has examined the impact of trauma exposure and mental health problems among sexual minority women on their occupational outcomes. The goal of the current study was to examine whether trauma exposure, mental health problems, and minority stressors were associated with occupational functioning 1 year later in a large sample of young adult lesbian and bisexual women. The study utilized a subset of data (N = 304) from a larger longitudinal study on health risk behaviors among young adult lesbian and bisexual women. Results indicated that trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress, depression, and perceived heterosexism were each associated with subsequent work limitations, but after accounting for shared variance between predictors, only perceived heterosexism and depression were uniquely associated with subsequent work functioning. These findings highlight the roles of mental health and sexual orientation–related stress in the challenges that lesbian and bisexual women experience at work and point to a need for additional research to better understand risk and protective factors related to negative employment outcomes among lesbian and bisexual women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 04 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000292
Structural-level racial-, sexual orientation-, and HIV-related
discrimination and subsequent criminal justice involvement among young,
Black, men who have sex with men in North Carolina.
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  Abstract: Multiple aspects of Black young men who have sex with men’s (YMSM) identities cause them to be differentially targeted for arrest and incarceration. However, limited research has explored structural drivers of Black YMSM’ criminal justice involvement, particularly co-occurring forms of discrimination. This article examines the temporal relationship between perceived racial discrimination, perceived sexual orientation discrimination, and community-level HIV discrimination and criminal justice involvement among Black YMSM in North Carolina. The study followed 465 Black YMSM from November 2013 to October 2016 who were recruited for a randomized controlled trial to test an internet-based intervention for Black YMSM living with, and at risk for HIV; participants completed online surveys at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between the three predictors at baseline (i.e., perceived racism and sexual orientation discrimination and community-level HIV discrimination) and criminal justice involvement at follow-up. All three predictor variables were significantly associated with subsequent criminal justice involvement in separate regression models that adjusted for other covariates: HIV discrimination (aOR = 1.06 [1.01–1.11]), perceived sexual orientation discrimination (aOR = 1.12 [1.00–1.27]), and perceived racism (aOR = 1.26 [1.12–1.42]). Perceived racism remained significant in the model with all three predictors (aOR = 1.29 [1.07–1.55]). Racism did not modify the relationship between HIV discrimination and perceived sexual orientation discrimination and criminal justice involvement. This study expands existing research by exploring racism as a structural driver of criminal justice involvement; we subsequently examined whether racism modified the effect of the two other predictors. It also contributes to research on co-occurring discrimination by examining their impact on an underrepresented population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000290
Racial identity safety cues and healthcare provider expectations.
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  Abstract: Although numerous reviews suggest the detrimental influence of healthcare identity threat (i.e., expectations and the experience of identity-based devaluation) on stigmatized group members’ experiences in healthcare settings, no experimental research has examined identity safety cues (i.e., identity-relevant cues that signal protection from identity-based devaluation) in healthcare settings. The present 2 studies manipulated the presence or absence of 2 commonly studied identity safety cues on a healthcare provider’s brochure (i.e., racial minority representation and diversity statements) and assessed Black and Latinx participants’ perceptions of the provider (i.e., the provider’s racial bias and cultural competency) and expectations of a visit at that provider’s office. Across the 2 studies, Black and Latinx participants (Ntotal = 407) reported greater perceptions of the provider’s cultural competence and significantly lower perceptions of the provider’s racial bias when the provider signaled having racially diverse clientele compared to all White clientele. Further, participants anticipated having greater comfort and treatment quality when providers had racially diverse clientele. Providers’ diversity statements did not have a significant influence on perceptions of providers or anticipated visit quality. Future research should explore how identity safety cues in healthcare settings can influence intentions to visit healthcare providers and consequent health outcomes of Black and Latinx Americans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 10 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000265
Weight- and health-focused conversations in racially/ethnically diverse
households with and without a child with overweight/obesity.
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  Abstract: Studies indicate parent conversations focused on child weight, shape, or size are associated with unhealthy child weight and weight-related behaviors, whereas health-focused conversations are not. Little research has examined what these types of conversations sound like, how parents respond to them, and whether households with or without a child with overweight/obesity approach these conversations differently. This study used qualitative data to identify the weight- and health-focused conversations occurring in racially/ethnically diverse households. Children aged 5–7 years and their families (n = 150) from 6 racial/ethnic groups (i.e., African American, Hispanic, Hmong, Native American, Somali, White) participated in this mixed-methods study. Results showed that parents from households with and without a child with overweight/obesity engaged in similar weight- and health-focused conversations (qualitative themes = focus on growth; health consequences of having overweight/obesity; focus on dietary intake and physical activity; being direct about weight, shape, or size; mixing weight- and health-focused conversations). In addition, findings showed that parents also engaged in different types of weight- and health-focused conversations, depending on whether the household had a child with overweight/obesity (qualitative themes = weight-based teasing; critiquing own weight) or without overweight/obesity (qualitative themes = differences in body shape and size are the norm; focus on modeling rather than talking). Results may be useful for informing public health interventions and for health care providers working with parents regarding weight- and health-focused conversations occurring in home environments of diverse children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 03 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000268
Dehumanization of mental illness and the stereotype content model.
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  Abstract: People with mental illness face stigma that leads others to view them as less than fully human. The stereotype content model posits that people dehumanize social groups that are stereotyped as lacking both warmth and competence, but researchers have not tested this prediction with mental illness. Across 5 studies, the current research examined blatant dehumanization, stereotypical warmth, and stereotypical competence as they relate to mental illness. Study 1 (N = 157) demonstrated that dehumanization significantly correlated with warmth and competence across 11 mental disorders. Study 2 (N = 324) included experimental manipulations of warmth and competence and showed that warmth but not competence significantly influenced dehumanization. The results of Study 3 (N = 159) indicated that dehumanization was associated with some disorders stereotyped as having low warmth and competence, such as addiction, but also disorders stereotyped as having moderate warmth, such as intellectual disability. Study 4 (N = 157) demonstrated that addiction, autism, and dementia elicited similar levels of dehumanization despite significant variations in their stereotypical warmth and competence. Study 5 (N = 299) showed that experimental manipulation of the warmth associated with addiction and intellectual disability affected attitudes about the disorders but not dehumanization. Overall, the results suggest that the stereotype content model cannot fully explain the dehumanization of mental illness. Although the correlations between warmth, competence, and dehumanization indicate that the variables are related in the expected directions, some disorders are dehumanized regardless of their stereotypical warmth and competence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
  PubDate: Thu, 06 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT
  DOI: 10.1037/sah0000256