Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to devaluation/discrimination and rejection experiences among users of mental health services.
BACKGROUND
A major goal in mental health research and policy is to identify ways to reduce stigma among persons with mental illness.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study were to (1) investigate the prevalence of rejection and devaluation/discrimination in a cross-sectional sample of 200 individuals with experiences of mental illness and (2) investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical, client characteristics and perceived devaluation/discrimination and experiences of rejection.


METHODS
A total of 200 subjects in current contact with mental health services or with earlier experiences of this were interviewed regarding beliefs about devaluation/discrimination and rejection experiences.


RESULTS
The results showed that subjects with a higher degree of global functioning perceived less devaluation/discrimination. With regard to rejections experiences associations were found between rejection experiences and global functioning, number of admissions to inpatient psychiatric care and current contact with social services.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research should investigate the causal relationship between stigma experiences and psychosocial functioning. To understand what consequences perceived devaluation/discrimination has for the afflicted, a psychological and social approach in the research must be taken into consideration.
Lundberg
Bertil
B
Department of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Lund University, PO Box 157, 22100, Lund, Sweden. bertil.lundberg@med.lu.se
Hansson
Lars
L
Wentz
Elisabeth
E
Björkman
Tommy
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011287:Prejudice; D015995:Prevalence; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires