Perceived Stigma, Discrimination and Mental Health Among Women in Publicly Funded Substance Abuse Treatment

• Published in: Stigma and health (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2021-05, Vol.6 (2), p.151-162
• Main Authors: Matsumoto, Atsushi, Santelices, Claudia, Lincoln, Alisa K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Discrimination; Drug Abuse; Female; Human; Mental Health; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Race and Ethnic Discrimination; Stigma; Substance Use Treatment; Symptoms
• ISSN: 2376-6972; 2376-6964
• DOI: 10.1037/sah0000226

Experiences of perceived stigma and discrimination are associated with a range of negative health outcomes. Individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health problems experience significant public stigma and discrimination associated with multiple aspects of identity. Less is known as to how these experiences of stigma and discrimination are associated with mental health among women in substance abuse treatment. This study examined experiences of perceived stigma and discrimination as well as associations among these experiences and poor mental health among women in publicly funded substance abuse treatment services. Structured interview data from 240 women (59% racial/ethnic minority, M ± SD age = 33.42 ± 9.16) include measures of devaluation stigma, perceived discrimination, and symptoms of psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and open-ended questions exploring experiences of stigma and discrimination. Participants identified substance use as the most prevalent source of devaluation stigma and the most common reason for experiences of discrimination. Adjusting for covariates, discrimination was associated with higher severity of mental health symptoms (p < .001) and PTSD symptoms (p < .001). Devaluation stigma based on race, substance use, and mental illness were not associated with mental health indices. In addition, recent trauma experience partially mediated the relationships of perceived discrimination with mental health symptoms (p < .001) and PTSD symptoms (p < .001), after adjusting for covariates. These findings suggest importance of strategies to address experiences of discrimination to improve mental health of women in publicly funded substance abuse treatment.