Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2012 Jan;58(1):55-61. doi: 10.1177/0020764010387058. Epub 2010 Nov 23.
Although there is a growing literature on internalized stigma from the developed world, very little research has been conducted in developing countries such as South Africa. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the internalized stigma experienced by members of a mental health advocacy group in South Africa and relationships between self-stigma and other constructs, namely, empowerment, perceived devaluation and discrimination.
Self-administered questionnaires measuring respondents reported levels of internalized stigma, empowerment and perceived devaluation and discrimination were distributed to all the members of the South African Depression & Anxiety Group (SADAG) by post and via email. Of the 850 members invited to participate, 142 members of SADAG completed the questionnaire. Pearson correlations were computed and multiple regression analyses were carried out to analyse the data.
The highest reports of stigma were for stigma resistance (mean = 2.9), alienation (mean = 2.47) and perceived discrimination (mean = 2.24). Low levels of stereotype endorsement (mean = 1.77) and social withdrawal (mean = 1.22) were reported. Although respondents often felt that the public held negative attitudes towards individuals suffering with a mental illness (perceived devaluation and discrimination scale (PDD), mean = 2.95), a majority of respondents reported high levels of empowerment (mean = 3.0) and self-efficacy (mean = 2.47). After controlling for socio-demographic factors, higher scores on the PDD were associated with social withdrawal and having experienced discrimination.
Internalization of stigma, disempowerment and loss of self-esteem are not inevitable consequences for all individuals with a mental illness. Nevertheless, perceived stigma is significantly associated with social withdrawal and experienced discrimination.
尽管来自发达国家的有关内化污名的文献不断增多，但在南非等发展中国家开展的此类研究却很少。因此，本研究旨在描述南非一个精神健康倡导团体成员所经历的内化污名，并探讨其与其他结构之间的关系，如赋权、感知贬值和歧视。
通过邮寄和电子邮件向南非抑郁与焦虑组织（SADAG）的所有成员分发了自我报告的问卷，以测量受访者报告的内化污名、赋权和感知贬值与歧视程度。在邀请参加的 850 名成员中，有 142 名 SADAG 成员完成了问卷。计算了 Pearson 相关系数，并进行了多元回归分析来分析数据。
污名抵抗（均值=2.9）、疏离（均值=2.47）和感知歧视（均值=2.24）的污名报告最高。刻板印象认同（均值=1.77）和社会退缩（均值=1.22）的水平较低。尽管受访者经常感到公众对患有精神疾病的个体持有负面态度（感知贬值和歧视量表（PDD），均值=2.95），但大多数受访者报告了高水平的赋权（均值=3.0）和自我效能感（均值=2.47）。在控制社会人口因素后，PDD 得分较高与社会退缩和遭受歧视有关。
内化污名、赋权不足和自尊心丧失并非所有精神疾病患者的必然后果。然而，感知污名与社会退缩和经历歧视显著相关。
