Internalized stigma among psychiatric outpatients: Associations with quality of life, functioning, hope and self-esteem.
This study aimed to: (i) determine the prevalence, socio-demographic and clinical correlates of internalized stigma and (ii) explore the association between internalized stigma and quality of life, general functioning, hope and self-esteem, among a multi-ethnic Asian population of patients with mental disorders. This cross-sectional, survey recruited adult patients (n=280) who were seeking treatment at outpatient and affiliated clinics of the only tertiary psychiatric hospital in Singapore. Internalized stigma was measured using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale. 43.6% experienced moderate to high internalized stigma. After making adjustments in multiple logistic regression analysis, results revealed there were no significant socio-demographic or clinical correlates relating to internalized stigma. Individual logistic regression models found a negative relationship between quality of life, self-esteem, general functioning and internalized stigma whereby lower scores were associated with higher internalized stigma. In the final regression model, which included all psychosocial variables together, self-esteem was the only variable significantly and negatively associated with internalized stigma. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the role internalized stigma plays in patients with mental illness, and the impact it can have on psychosocial aspects of their lives.
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore. Electronic address: louisa_picco@imh.com.sg.
Louisa
L
Picco
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Shirlene
S
Pang
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Ying Wen
YW
Lau
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Anitha
A
Jeyagurunathan
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Pratika
P
Satghare
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Edimansyah
E
Abdin
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Janhavi Ajit
JA
Vaingankar
Ambulatory Services, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Susan
S
Lim
Nursing Training Department, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Chee Lien
CL
Poh
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Siow Ann
SA
Chong
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore.
Mythily
M
Subramaniam
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010045:Outpatients; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012846:Singapore; D012917:Social Adjustment; D057545:Social Stigma
Anxiety; Depression; Internalized stigma; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Schizophrenia; Singapore