title: The effect of personal and group discrimination on the subjective well-being of people with mental illness: the role of internalized stigma and collective action intention.
abstract: The goal of this study is to test a model in which personal discrimination predicts internalized stigma, while group discrimination predicts a greater willingness to engage in collective action. Internalized stigma and collective action, in turn, are associated to positive and negative affect. A cross-sectional study with 213 people with mental illness was conducted. The model was tested using path analysis. Although the data supported the model, its fit was not sufficiently good. A respecified model, in which a direct path from collective action to internalized stigma was added, showed a good fit. Personal and group discrimination appear to impact subjective well-being through two different paths: the internalization of stigma and collective action intentions, respectively. These two paths, however, are not completely independent, as collective action predicts a lower internalization of stigma. Thus, collective action appears as an important tool to reduce internalized stigma and improve subjective well-being. Future interventions to reduce the impact of stigma should fight the internalization of stigma and promote collective action are suggested.
authors.affiliation: a Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicología Social y de las Organizaciones , UNED , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez-Garín
authors.affiliation: a Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicología Social y de las Organizaciones , UNED , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molero
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , Open University of the Netherlands , Heerlen , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan E R
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D057545:Social Stigma; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mental illness; affects; collective action; discrimination; internalized stigma; structural equation modelling