title: Experiences of stigma by association among family members of people with mental illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationships between public stigma, stigma by association (SBA), psychological distress, perceived closeness, perceived heredity, and the type of family relationship among family members of people with a mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional survey, data from 527 family members of people with a mental illness were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceptions of public stigma were found to be positively related to SBA and SBA correlated with greater psychological distress and less perceived closeness. SBA also mediated relationships between perceived public stigma and psychological distress, and between perceived public stigma and perceived closeness. Further, among participants who reported SBA, immediate family members showed lower levels of perceived closeness than extended family members. Also, the perceived heredity of mental illness was associated with perceptions of public stigma and psychological distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that family members of people with a mental illness could benefit from education on mental illnesses, their treatment, and the extent to which they are hereditary. Additionally, particular attention should be paid to the psychological needs that arise from being a caregiver of someone with a mental illness.
authors: Department of Work and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. remco.vandersanden@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors: Remko L M
authors: RL
authors: van der Sanden
authors: Arjan E R
authors: AE
authors: Bos
authors: Sarah E
authors: SE
authors: Stutterheim
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Pryor
authors: Gerjo
authors: G
authors: Kok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006266:Health Education; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult