This final section considers what can be done to cope with stigma. Kunreuther and Slovic identify four strategies for coping with stigma. Walker, in a response to Kunreuther and Slovic, questions the assumption that society ought to adopt the nor-mative values of reducing stigma through a variety of strategies or techniques. Fischhoff proposes a definition of stigma and draws a number of infere...

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 i...

Whereas past researchers have treated targets of stereotypes as though they have uniform reactions to their stereotyped status (e.g., J. Crocker & B. Major, 1989; C. M. Steele & J. Aronson, 1995), it is proposed here that targets differ in the extent to which they expect to be stereotyped by others (i.e., stigma consciousness). Six studies, 5 of which validate the stigma-consciousness questionn...

Stigma is defined as a sign of disgrace or discredit, which sets a person apart from others. The stigma of mental illness, although more often related to context than to a person’s appearance, remains a powerful negative attribute in all social relations. Sociological interest in psychiatric stigma was given added vigour with the publication of Stigma – Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identi...

BACKGROUND Research on stigma often focuses on general public attitudes and overlooks patients' subjective experiences of everyday stigma arising from significant others. AIMS To document and compare the interpersonal experiences of stigma in patients with schizophrenia and patients with diabetes mellitus in Hong Kong. METHOD Four focus groups were conducted to generate a self-report questi...

Twenty percent of Americans suffer from mental disorders, but most do not receive treatment. Stigma is an important barrier to mental health treatment and recovery. This article aims to summarize current national initiatives to reduce stigma, clarify the current knowledge of stigma-reducing interventions, and provide recommendations to nurses on implementing and investigating stigma-reducing in...

BACKGROUND Breast and cervical cancer are two of the most common cancers among women worldwide and were the two leading causes of cancer related death for women in India in 2013. While it is recognized that psychosocial and cultural factors influence access to education, prevention, screening and treatment, the role of stigma related to these two cancers has received limited attention. METHOD...

BACKGROUND Increased HIV/AIDS knowledge and access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) have been hypothesized to decrease HIV stigma. However, stigma persists as a barrier to HIV services uptake. We studied the relationship between stigma, knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and its treatment, and confidence in the legal system (legal rights certitude). METHODS We analyzed data from a household...

BACKGROUND Little is known about how the views of the public are related to self-stigma among people with mental health problems. Despite increasing activity aimed at reducing mental illness stigma, there is little evidence to guide and inform specific anti-stigma campaign development and messages to be used in mass campaigns. A better understanding of the association between public knowledge, ...

BACKGROUND HIV infection rates are increasing among marginalized women in Ontario, Canada. HIV-related stigma, a principal factor contributing to the global HIV epidemic, interacts with structural inequities such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. The study objective was to explore experiences of stigma and coping strategies among HIV-positive women in Ontario, Canada. METHODS AND FINDINGS We...