Internalized stigma and quality of life domains among people with mental illness: the mediating role of self-esteem

Background: People with mental illness who internalize stigma often experience reduced self-esteem and impaired quality of life (QOL). Aims: To propose a theoretical model in which self-esteem mediates the effects of internalized stigma on the multidimensional domains comprising QOL. Method: In 403...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mental health (Abingdon, England) England), 2016-01, Vol.25 (1), p.55-61
Main Authors: Oliveira, Sandra E. H., Carvalho, Helena, Esteves, Francisco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Female
Humans
Male
Mental disorders
Mental Disorders - psychology
Mental health care
Middle Aged
Psychological Tests
QOL domains
Quality of life
Quality of Life - psychology
Self Concept
Self esteem
self-stigma
Stereotyping
Stigma
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background: People with mental illness who internalize stigma often experience reduced self-esteem and impaired quality of life (QOL). Aims: To propose a theoretical model in which self-esteem mediates the effects of internalized stigma on the multidimensional domains comprising QOL. Method: In 403 inpatients and outpatients (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994), from hospital-based and community mental health facilities, self-report measures of internalized stigma (ISMI), self-esteem (RSES) and QOL (WHOQOL-Bref) were administrated. Results: Structural equation modeling results supported the proposed model. Self-esteem fully mediated the relation between internalized stigma and the physical and the social relationships domains, and partially mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and psychological, environment and level of independence QOL domains. Such results provided empirical support and shed light upon previous research. Specifically the results emphasize the mediating role that self-esteem plays in the degree to which internalized stigma exerts a negative effect on specific QOL domains. Conclusions: Self-esteem appears to be a core element in reducing the negative effects of internalized stigma on aspects of QOL among people with mental illness. These findings suggest there is a crucial impact regarding clinical mental health interventions along with important theoretical implications.
ISSN:0963-8237
1360-0567
1360-0567
DOI:10.3109/09638237.2015.1124387