Prosumers’ experiences of stigma dimensions within the clinical psychology field.

Abstract

Lived experiences of mental illness and stigmatizing attitudes toward psychiatric diagnoses are common throughout the world. Research demonstrates that clinical psychologists are not exempt from having lived experiences of mental illness, nor experiencing, witnessing and perpetuating stigma. However, no research has examined prosumers' (providers and consumers of mental health services) experiences of witnessing discrimination within the field of clinical psychology. The purpose of this study was to explore prosumer's experiences of stigma within clinical psychology. A total of 175 doctoral level prosumers (graduated N = 39 and N = 136 in-training) completed a mixed-method online survey regarding their stigma experiences within the field. Emergent qualitative themes from grounded theory analyses included: witnessed discrimination (invalidation, over pathologizing, clinical psychologists as experts and training as a breeding ground for stigma, psychological distress, negative feelings related to field), anticipated stigma (agency and identity rejected, degree of acceptance), internalized stigma (perceived competence and social desirability), and stigma resistance (academia in action, engaging communities, comes with a risk, worthwhile). Our findings have implications for the role of clinical psychology in perpetuating stigmatizing views and attitudes toward individuals with lived experiences of mental illness, specifically in-training and academic settings. Further research should strive to evaluate how clinical psychologists, including prosumers, engage in stigma, and the associations between discrimination and other stigma dimensions. Impact StatementThis study offers a qualitative exploration of prosumers' (providers and users of mental health services) experiences of stigma within the field of clinical psychology. Prosumers recounted different forms of witnessed discrimination that caused them to anticipate and internalize stigma within their role as clinical psychologists but inspired them to engage in stigma resistance. Findings have implications for clinical psychology training program evaluation, and the adoption of recovery-oriented approaches within training and clinical settings.

Prosumers’ experiences of witnessed discrimination and internalized stigma: A moderated mediation.

“…This might highlight social acceptability surrounding the perpetration of stigma within clinical psychology and align with previous research findings that mental health professionals often reject and participate in the social isolation of individuals experiencing mental illness (Wahl, 2012). A prior analysis of qualitative data from the present study's sample indicated that prosumers' self-reported stigma may also vary depending on diagnosis; prosumers described holding more negative attitudes toward borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder than depression and anxiety disorders (Lo ´pez-Aybar et al, 2023).…”

“…Similarly, prosumers have been found to endorse low levels of internalized stigma in previous studies (Kazemsoltani, 2017; Tay et al, 2018). In a grounded theory analysis observing prosumer experiences with internalized stigma, López-Aybar et al (2023) found that prosumers describe experiences of internalized stigma directly related to their role or identity as clinical psychologists, specifically in terms of questioning their own competence to meet the demands of their roles as clinical psychologists. In the present study, the questionnaire chosen to evaluate internalized stigma did not ask questions pertaining to prosumers’ identity as a provider with an assigned diagnosis.…”