title: Stigma resistance in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An individual's capacity to counteract the stigma of mental illness, stigma resistance (SR), is considered as playing a crucial role in fighting stigma. However, little is known about SR and its correlates in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Exploring SR in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-seven participants completed the "Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness" (ISMI) Scale including its subscale on SR. Measures of perceived devaluation and discrimination, depression, self-esteem, empowerment, quality of life, and demographic and clinical variables were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds of all patients showed high SR. SR correlated positively with self-esteem, empowerment, and quality of life and negatively with stigma measures and depression. A social network with a sufficient number of friends, being single or married, in contrast to being separated, as well as receiving outpatient treatment, was associated with higher SR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SR is a new and promising concept. The development of stigma-resisting beliefs might help individuals in their hope of finding a fulfilling life and in their recovery from mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna,Vienna, Austria. ingrid.sibitz@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sibitz
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woppmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zidek
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amering
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support