Stigma, Health and Well-Being

Abstract

In order to understand the phenomenon of stigma in different populations (e.g., different ethnicities, different diseases, and different conditions), this Special Issue collects papers from around the world to illustrate the stigma phenomenon. After a rigorous process of peer review, a total of 24 papers were published and included in the Special Issue. These papers were contributed from different continents and countries, including the Americas (e.g., United States), Europe (e.g., Finland), and Asia (e.g., Saudi Arabia). Therefore, the diversity of ethnicity was ensured in the Special Issue. Moreover, these papers address different stigmatized populations/conditions (e.g., mental illness, obesity, public housing, homosexuality, and transgender). The most discussed populations were those with mental illness and those with obesity/overweight. However, additional evidence on the stigma topic is still needed. Specifically, future studies could consider the following directions to explore in depth the issues of stigma in different populations: (1) using longitudinal designs to understand the temporal or causal relationship between stigma and other related psychosocial factors; (2) designing treatment programs to fight stigma—this could be carried out in healthcare providers, healthcare trainees, the public, caregivers, and the stigmatized populations.

The Mediating Role of Internalized Stigma and Shame on the Relationship between COVID-19 Related Discrimination and Mental Health Outcomes among Back-to-School Students in Wuhan

“…Meanwhile, our findings suggested that shame could directly influence the internalized stigma, thus, affecting negative mental health outcomes through their chain mediating path. This was in line with previous studies linking shame and internalized stigma to increased risks for negative mental health outcomes [ 20 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ] in the context of HIV, obesity, schizophrenia, and marginalized groups. Multiple mediating analyses further revealed the underlying mechanisms and explained why discrimination could increase negative mental health outcomes.…”

Self-Disclosure and Non-Communication: Stigma Management in Third-Sector Transitional Employment

“…At the beginning of Excerpt 1a, staff member SM1 highlights how the Clubhouse organization has been able to create hundreds of job contracts with employers (lines 1-3). He continues by noting that although he has contacted potential employers, he has tried to non-communicate the fact that he is looking for jobs for people who are recovering from mental illnesses (lines [3][4][5][6][11][12]. The pauses and disconnections in his speech indicate hesitation (lines 3-5).…”

“…Following the classic formulation of Goffman [3], stigma is a characteristic that 'discredits' a person, reduces social standing and leads to problematic relations between the 'normal' and the 'stigmatized'. Stigma may be conceptualized as a public, experienced, perceived, or internalized phenomenon [4,5] and it is commonly discussed as something inflicted upon the stigmatized from the outside or as something that a person is able to influence [6]. Another type of stigma is an affiliate stigma [7], or a courtesy stigma [3], which indicates that stigmas also affect those who are closely associated with stigmatized individuals.…”

Self-Stigma, Mental Health and Healthy Habits in Parent of Children with Severe Mental Disorder

“…[1][2][3] Stigma towards mental disorders has a devastating effect on those who suffer from it in the first person, (more harmful, even, than the symptomatology itself), being a powerful barrier to access to treatment, recovery, social performance, which seriously compromises their personal autonomy. [4][5][6] Its multiple consequences have been studied, causing, among other effects, problems for incorporation into the world of work, less help-seeking, demoralisation, ostracism and isolation, hopelessness, low self-esteem. 7 Unfortunately, prejudice, discrimination and stigmatising effects can also extend to family members and close associates, in what is known as "courtesy stigma", "associated stigma" or "stigma by association".…”