title: Internalized mental illness stigma and subjective well-being: The mediating role of psychological well-being.
abstract: This study examines the relationships between internalized stigma, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being in a sample of people with mental illness. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 213 outpatients from the Spanish public social care network. The results showed that (a) internalized stigma was significantly negatively correlated with psychological well-being and subjective well-being (affect balance and life satisfaction) (all correlations are significant with at least p<0.05; most with p<0.001), (b) the two types of well-being were significantly positively correlated and regressions models were significant and (all correlations are at least p<0.01, and regression models are also significant), (c) the effect of internalized stigma on affect balance and life satisfaction was mediated by psychological well-being. The component of internalized stigma most consistently associated with both types of well-being was alienation (life satisfaction: B=-0.35, p=0.001; affect balance: B=-0.38, p=0.001). These findings should be confirmed in future longitudinal or experimental research. On the basis of these results we recommend that interventions to combat self-stigma aim to reduce feelings of alienation and improve self-acceptance and other aspects of positive psychological functioning.
authors.affiliation: UNED, Spain. Electronic address: dperez@madridsur.uned.es.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez-Garín
authors.affiliation: UNED, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molero
authors.affiliation: Open University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan E R
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019058:Community Networks; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D057545:Social Stigma; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Internalized stigma; Psychological well-being; Stigma; Subjective well-being