Stigma towards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems among Fathers and Mothers. A Cross-sectional Study / [El estigma de los padres y madres hacia los problemas de salud mental de niños y adolescentes. Un estudio transversal]

Background: Stigma toward child and adolescent mental health problems among parents has been understudied, despite its importance. Method: Sociodemographic variables, stigma associated with mental health problems in childhood and adolescence, myths about suicide, familiarity with mental health, and seeking professional help were assessed in a cross-sectional study in a Spanish sample (N = 268). Descriptive analyses, mean difference and regression models were carried out. Results: The results reveal medium levels of stigma, the presence of myths about suicide and average familiarity with mental health. Mothers and a higher level of education, showed lower levels of stigma and fewer myths about suicide. A regression model explains the 44% of the variance with myths about suicide, stigma and familiarity with mental health as predictors of seeking professional help attitudes. Conclusions: Stigma, myths surrounding suicide, and parental unfamiliarity with mental health may act as barriers to appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Practical implications and recommendations are discussed.(AU)

Antecedentes: La estigmatización de los problemas de salud mental en niños y adolescentes en los padres y madres no se ha estudiado lo suficiente a pesar de su importancia. Método: Se evaluaron variables sociodemográficas, el estigma asociado con los problemas de salud mental en la infancia y la adolescencia, mitos sobre el suicidio, conocimiento de la salud mental y la búsqueda de ayuda profesional en un estudio exploratorio transversal en una muestra española de padres y madres (N = 268). Se realizaron análisis descriptivos, de diferencia de medias y modelos de regresión. Resultados: Los resultados revelan un nivel medio de estigma, la presencia de mitos sobre el suicidio y un conocimiento medio con la salud mental. Las madres y un mayor nivel educativo mostraron menores niveles de estigma y menos mitos sobre el suicidio. El 44% de la varianza de la búsqueda de ayuda profesional se explica a través de los mitos sobre el suicidio, el estigma y el conocimiento de la salud mental como predictores de las actitudes de búsqueda de ayuda profesional. Conclusiones: Se establecen recomendaciones prácticas, subrayando cómo el estigma, los mitos sobre el suicidio y la falta de conocimiento de los progenitores de la salud mental pueden actuar como barreras para un diagnóstico y tratamiento adecuados. Se discuten las implicaciones prácticas y las recomendaciones.(AU)

Mental illness stigma. A comparative cross-sectional study of social stigma, internalized stigma and self-esteem / El estigma de la enfermedad mental. Estudio comparativo transversal del estigma social, el internalizado y la autoestima

The aim of this study was to explore the role of stigma in different diagnoses of mental illness. A cross-sectional study (N = 255) was developed in two groups: users of a rehabilitation network for people with severe mental illness (Group-I) and people with common diagnoses in an ambulatory psychiatric service (Group-II). Internalized stigma, social stigma, self-esteem, and sociodemographic variables were measured. Mean comparisons, ANOVAs, and independent linear regression models were carried out. Similar overall scores were obtained for the internalized stigma, but Group-I reported more discrimination and resistance to stigma and also had less social stigma. The regression model for Group-I revealed social stigma and self-esteem as predictors, while in Group-II only self-esteem was significant. The study reveals differences in internalized stigma according to the care resource and diagnoses, suggesting different intervention lines and underlining the importance of further research on this topic. (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido explorar el papel del estigma en los diferentes diagnósticos de la enfermedad mental. Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal (N = 255) en dos grupos: usuarios de una red de rehabilitación para personas con enfermedad mental grave (grupo I) y personas con diagnósticos comunes en un servicio psiquiátrico ambulatorio (grupo II). Se midió el estigma internalizado, el social, la autoestima y las variables sociodemográficas. Se llevaron a cabo comparaciones medias, ANOVA y modelos de regresión lineal independientes. Se obtuvieron puntuaciones generales similares para el estigma internalizado, pero el grupo I manisfestó más discriminación y resistencia al estigma y también menor estigma social. El modelo de regresión para el grupo I mostró como predictores el estigma social y la autoestima, mientras que en el grupo II sólo la autoestima era significativa. El estudio muestra diferencias en el estigma internalizado según el recurso de atención y los diagnósticos, lo que sugiere diferentes líneas de intervención y subraya la importancia de seguir investigando en este tema. (AU)

Efficacy of a combined intervention program for the reduction of internalized stigma in people with severe mental illness.

BACKGROUND: Internalized stigma (IS) is a key factor in the recovery, quality of life and functioning of people with severe mental illness (SMI), and effective intervention programs are needed to reduce IS in all its dimensions. The aim of this report was to design and evaluate the effectiveness of a new psychological intervention group program for the reduction of IS in people with SMI. METHODS: A 9-session hands-on intervention program was designed with a group format in which different therapeutic techniques were combined. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, 80 people with SMI and high levels of IS were selected and randomly assigned to one of two groups: program (n = 41, experimental group) or conventional treatment (n = 39, control group). RESULTS: Mixed analysis of variance showed improvements in total IS and all of its dimensions (cognitive, emotional and behavioral) (p ≤ 0.01) and in depressive symptomatology (p = 0.01) in the experimental group after the treatment phase. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the program effectively reduces IS and its dimensions as well as other relevant associated variables in a sample of people with SMI.

Age-related self-stigma of people over 65 years old: adaptation of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI) for use in age-related self-stigma (IS65+) in a Spanish sample.

OBJECTIVES: To adapt the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI) to examine self-stigma associated with aging and to study the psychometric properties of this adapted version (IS65+). Finally, self-stigma associated with age in older people is studied. METHOD: The IS65+ was administered to a random sample of 419 people over 65 years from Madrid (Spain) to study the psychometric properties of this adapted version. A regression model was estimated to identify the variables that best predict self-stigma associated with old age. RESULTS: The IS65+ showed good internal consistency (α = .89) and a factorial structure of five factors. The data showed lower levels of self-stigma related to age in the sample than the levels of mental illness self-stigma in people with mental illness. The variables associated with age-related self-stigma are: high levels of perceived loneliness, low levels of coping strategies, gender (female), mental disorder, major depressive disorder, low levels of optimism and quality of life, and high levels of functional impairment. CONCLUSION: A new version of ISMI (IS65+) with acceptable psychometric criteria has been developed for use in people over 65 years old.