Stigma resistance and its association with internalised stigma and psychosocial outcomes among psychiatric outpatients

Abstract

Studies have suggested that stigma resistance plays an important role in the recovery from mental illness. However, there has been limited research in Asian countries that has examined the benefits of stigma resistance among the mentally ill in Asian populations. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of stigma resistance and establish the socio-demographic correlates of stigma resistance, as well as its association with internalised stigma and psychosocial outcomes among a multi-ethnic population of 280 outpatients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in Singapore. Prevalence of stigma resistance measured using the Stigma Resistance subscale of the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness Scale was 82.9%. ANOVA and logistic regressions were conducted and results revealed that: (i) Stigma resistance was positively associated with being separated/divorced/widowed but negatively associated with depression diagnosis; (ii) Psychosocial outcomes such as self-esteem and psychological health were positively associated with stigma resistance; and (iii) Internalised stigma was negatively associated with stigma resistance. Moving forward, treatments could emphasize on improving the self-esteem and psychological health of patients to increase their stigma resistance for counteracting effects of public and internalised stigma.

Stigma Resistance and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Mood Disorder at St. Paul’s Hospital and Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019

“…This study found 49.5% overall percentage score of stigma resistance, and this figure is lower than the study carried out in Europe (59.7%) [21], Singapore (89.2%) [22], and China (76%) [23]. And this variation may be due to the difference in the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients; most of the patients in other study areas have more than a secondary level of education which contributes for better coping with stigma and a good mental health care setting which contributes for better care and treatment outcome.…”

Overview of Stigma against Psychiatric Illnesses and Advancements of Anti-Stigma Activities in Six Asian Societies

“…Disorder severity negatively predicted mental health component of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for Singaporeans suffering from depression [9]. Among Singaporean psychiatric outpatients with depression and anxiety disorders, 43.6% experienced moderate to high levels of self-stigma [93]. For patients with schizophrenia, the number of hospitalizations negatively predicted the mental health component of HRQOL [94].…”

A Seizure by Any Other Name: Challenges and Long-Term Implications of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

“…Patients with psychiatric conditions frequently experience feelings of stigmatization at higher rates than those without psychiatric conditions (10). In a subgroup analysis, the odds ratio of perceived stigma among patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures compared with those with epilepsy was found to be 4.27, suggesting a fourfold greater odds in an individual's lifetime (11).…”