Prevalence of internalized stigma among persons with severe mental illness

Michelle L West; Philip T Yanos; Stephen M Smith; David Roe; Paul H Lysaker

doi:10.5463/sra.v1i1.9

Prevalence of internalized stigma among persons with severe mental illness

Michelle L West, Philip T Yanos, Stephen M Smith, David Roe, Paul H Lysaker

Department of Community Mental Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose
There is evidence that internalized stigma significantly impacts the lives of people with severe mental illness. Nevertheless, there is little data on the prevalence of clinically significant internalized stigma. This study investigated the current prevalence and demographic correlates of significantly elevated levels of internalized stigma in two samples of people with severe mental illness living in the community.

Method
A total of 144 people (79.9% males, 20.1% females) participated, completing a demographic form and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.

Results
Overall, 36% of the sample had elevated internalized stigma scores using a cutoff criterion. Participants in the middle of the age distribution had the highest scores, and there was a site difference. No other demographic variables studied were related to overall internalized stigma.

Conclusions
We conclude that internalized stigma affects a relatively high percentage of people with severe mental illness.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3-10
Number of pages	8
Journal	Stigma research and action
Volume	1
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5463/sra.v1i1.9
State	Published - 2011

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title = "Prevalence of internalized stigma among persons with severe mental illness",

abstract = "PurposeThere is evidence that internalized stigma significantly impacts the lives of people with severe mental illness. Nevertheless, there is little data on the prevalence of clinically significant internalized stigma. This study investigated the current prevalence and demographic correlates of significantly elevated levels of internalized stigma in two samples of people with severe mental illness living in the community.MethodA total of 144 people (79.9% males, 20.1% females) participated, completing a demographic form and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.ResultsOverall, 36% of the sample had elevated internalized stigma scores using a cutoff criterion. Participants in the middle of the age distribution had the highest scores, and there was a site difference. No other demographic variables studied were related to overall internalized stigma.ConclusionsWe conclude that internalized stigma affects a relatively high percentage of people with severe mental illness.",

author = "West, {Michelle L} and Yanos, {Philip T} and Smith, {Stephen M} and David Roe and Lysaker, {Paul H}",

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AU - West, Michelle L

AU - Yanos, Philip T

AU - Smith, Stephen M

AU - Roe, David

AU - Lysaker, Paul H

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - PurposeThere is evidence that internalized stigma significantly impacts the lives of people with severe mental illness. Nevertheless, there is little data on the prevalence of clinically significant internalized stigma. This study investigated the current prevalence and demographic correlates of significantly elevated levels of internalized stigma in two samples of people with severe mental illness living in the community.MethodA total of 144 people (79.9% males, 20.1% females) participated, completing a demographic form and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.ResultsOverall, 36% of the sample had elevated internalized stigma scores using a cutoff criterion. Participants in the middle of the age distribution had the highest scores, and there was a site difference. No other demographic variables studied were related to overall internalized stigma.ConclusionsWe conclude that internalized stigma affects a relatively high percentage of people with severe mental illness.

AB - PurposeThere is evidence that internalized stigma significantly impacts the lives of people with severe mental illness. Nevertheless, there is little data on the prevalence of clinically significant internalized stigma. This study investigated the current prevalence and demographic correlates of significantly elevated levels of internalized stigma in two samples of people with severe mental illness living in the community.MethodA total of 144 people (79.9% males, 20.1% females) participated, completing a demographic form and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.ResultsOverall, 36% of the sample had elevated internalized stigma scores using a cutoff criterion. Participants in the middle of the age distribution had the highest scores, and there was a site difference. No other demographic variables studied were related to overall internalized stigma.ConclusionsWe conclude that internalized stigma affects a relatively high percentage of people with severe mental illness.

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DO - 10.5463/sra.v1i1.9

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JO - Stigma research and action

JF - Stigma research and action

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ER -

Prevalence of internalized stigma among persons with severe mental illness

Abstract

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