title: Internalized stigma and its psychosocial correlates in Korean patients with serious mental illness.
abstract: We aimed to examine internalized stigma of patients with mental illness in Korea and identify the contributing factors to internalized stigma among socio-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables using a cross-sectional study design. A total of 160 patients were recruited from a university mental hospital. We collected socio-demographic data, clinical variables and administered self-report scales to measure internalized stigma and levels of self-esteem, hopelessness, social support, and social conflict. Internalized stigma was identified in 8.1% of patients in our sample. High internalized stigma was independently predicted by low self-esteem, high hopelessness, and high social conflict among the psychosocial variables. Our finding suggests that simple psychoeducation only for insight gaining cannot improve internalized stigma. To manage internalized stigma in mentally ill patients, it is needed to promote hope and self-esteem. We also suggest that a relevant psychosocial intervention, such as developing coping skills for social conflict with family, can help patients overcome their internalized stigma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Jung
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youn Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Vin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ra Yeon
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namkoong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyooseob
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chs0225@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Hyun-Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Korea; Mental disorders; Psychosocial factors; Risk factors; Self-concept; Stereotyping