Microaggressions experienced by persons with mental illnesses: An exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
Microaggressions are subtle verbal or behavioral communications of disparaging messages to people based upon membership in a socially marginalized group. Their negative impact has been demonstrated for racial/ethnic groups, gender, sexual orientation, and physical disability, but currently no research exists on microaggressions as experienced by persons with mental illnesses.


METHODS
Qualitative data were gathered from 4 focus groups with 2 samples: adult mental health consumers in an assertive community treatment program and college students with mental illness diagnoses. Focus group transcripts were then analyzed using an open coding approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) to identify hierarchical themes and categories.


RESULTS
Five major themes were identified, including invalidation, assumption of inferiority, fear of mental illness, shaming of mental illness, and second class citizen. Perpetrators of microaggressions were most commonly identified as being close friends, family members, and authority figures. Importantly, participants reported experiencing more overt discrimination experiences than subtle microaggression experiences. Reported negative outcomes related to microaggression experiences included isolation, negative emotions, and treatment nonadherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Reported consequences of microaggressions have important implications for mental health treatment, especially as perpetrators were reported to include treatment providers and were usually unaware of such negative social exchanges. Loss of social support reported by participants and the frequent occurrence of microaggressions within close relationships implies these experiences could contribute to internalization of stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness. Directions for future research include an investigation of motivation and reasoning behind perpetration of microaggressions against persons with mental illnesses.
Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
Lauren
L
Gonzales
Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
Kristin C
KC
Davidoff
Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
Kevin L
KL
Nadal
Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
Philip T
PT
Yanos
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult