title: Parents with serious mental illness: differences in internalised and externalised mental illness stigma and gender stigma between mothers and fathers.
abstract: Research demonstrates that people living with serious mental illness (SMI) contend with widespread public stigma; however, little is known about the specific experiences of stigma that mothers, and in particular fathers, with SMI encounter as parents. This study aimed to explore and compare the experiences of stigma for mothers and fathers with SMI inferred not only by living with a mental illness but also potential compounding gender effects, and the associated impact of stigma on parenting. Telephone surveys were conducted with 93 participants with SMI who previously identified as parents in the Second Australian National Survey of Psychosis. Results indicated that mothers were more likely than fathers to perceive and internalise stigma associated with their mental illness. Conversely, fathers were more inclined to perceive stigma relating to their gender and to hold stigmatising attitudes towards others. Mental illness and gender stigma predicted poorer self-reported parenting experiences for both mothers and fathers. These findings may assist in tailoring interventions for mothers and fathers with SMI.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.affiliation: Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Department of Radiation Oncology, Calvary Mater Hospital, Waratah, NSW, Australia; Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Mary-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hanlon
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, VIC, Australia; Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Cherrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galletly
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Lind.E.Campbell@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Linda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D057545:Social Stigma; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Discrimination; Gender differences; Perceived stigma; Psychosis; Self-stigma