title: Reducing the stigma associated with seeking psychotherapy through self-affirmation.
abstract: Psychotherapy may be underutilized because people experience self-stigma-the internalization of public stigma associated with seeking psychotherapy. The purpose of this study was to experimentally test whether the self-stigma associated with seeking psychotherapy could be reduced by a self-affirmation intervention wherein participants reflected on an important personal characteristic. Compared with a control group, we hypothesized that a self-affirmation writing task would attenuate self-stigma, and thereby evidence indirect effects on intentions and willingness to seek psychotherapy. Participants were 84 undergraduates experiencing psychological distress. After completing pretest measures of self-stigma, intentions, and willingness to seek psychotherapy, participants were randomly assigned to either a self-affirmation or a control writing task, and subsequently completed posttest measures of self-stigma, intentions, and willingness to seek psychotherapy. Consistent with hypotheses, participants who engaged in self-affirmation reported lower self-stigma at posttest. Moreover, the self-affirmation writing task resulted in a positive indirect effect on willingness to seek psychotherapy, though results failed to support an indirect effect on intentions to seek psychotherapy. Findings suggest that self-affirmation theory may provide a useful framework for designing interventions that seek to address the underutilization of psychological services through reductions in self-stigma.
authors: Department of Psychology, Iowa State University.
authors: Daniel G
authors: DG
authors: Lannin
authors: Department of Psychology, Iowa State University.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Guyll
authors: Department of Psychology, Iowa State University.
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Vogel
authors: Department of Psychology, Iowa State University.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Madon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D057545:Social Stigma; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult