TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative investigation of self-stigma among adolescents taking psychiatric medication
AU - Kranke, Derrick A.
AU - Floersch, Jerry
AU - Kranke, Bridget O.
AU - Munson, Michelle R.
PY - 2011/8
Y1 - 2011/8
N2 - Objective: The extant literature describes stigma in two forms, public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma pertains to negative social behaviors, reactions, attitudes, and beliefs directed toward people with mental illness and among persons with mental illness. Self-stigma concerns the internalized effects of public stigma. Although both types of stigma have negative impacts on people with mental illness, they produce different effects. In particular, self-stigma can negatively affect self-esteem, social relationships, willingness to engage in life opportunities, and adherence to psychiatric services. Few adult stigma models represent self-stigma, and no models exist that examine self-stigma among adolescents with a mental illness. Because of developmental differences, adolescent self-stigma may be distinct from that of adults. This study aimed to develop a self-stigma model to elucidate youths' responses to mental illness labels and how psychiatric services affect self-image and self-efficacy. Methods: The qualitative study included a sample of 27 adolescents between the ages of 12 and17 who took psychiatric medication for a mental illness diagnosis. A semi-structured interview, the Teen Subjective Experience Medication Interview, was used to query adolescents about their perceptions of having a psychiatric diagnosis and of taking psychiatric medication. The analytic strategy identified a sequence of narrative plot components that illustrated a self-stigma process among adolescents. Results: The findings revealed a self-stigma model comprising three narrative components: stereotype, differentiate, and protect. Conclusions: The adolescent model was similar to yet distinct from the adult model, and developmental differences may contribute to the variation. The need for future research to validate an adolescent self-stigma model is discussed.
AB - Objective: The extant literature describes stigma in two forms, public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma pertains to negative social behaviors, reactions, attitudes, and beliefs directed toward people with mental illness and among persons with mental illness. Self-stigma concerns the internalized effects of public stigma. Although both types of stigma have negative impacts on people with mental illness, they produce different effects. In particular, self-stigma can negatively affect self-esteem, social relationships, willingness to engage in life opportunities, and adherence to psychiatric services. Few adult stigma models represent self-stigma, and no models exist that examine self-stigma among adolescents with a mental illness. Because of developmental differences, adolescent self-stigma may be distinct from that of adults. This study aimed to develop a self-stigma model to elucidate youths' responses to mental illness labels and how psychiatric services affect self-image and self-efficacy. Methods: The qualitative study included a sample of 27 adolescents between the ages of 12 and17 who took psychiatric medication for a mental illness diagnosis. A semi-structured interview, the Teen Subjective Experience Medication Interview, was used to query adolescents about their perceptions of having a psychiatric diagnosis and of taking psychiatric medication. The analytic strategy identified a sequence of narrative plot components that illustrated a self-stigma process among adolescents. Results: The findings revealed a self-stigma model comprising three narrative components: stereotype, differentiate, and protect. Conclusions: The adolescent model was similar to yet distinct from the adult model, and developmental differences may contribute to the variation. The need for future research to validate an adolescent self-stigma model is discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79961125486&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79961125486&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.62.8.pss6208_0893
DO - https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.62.8.pss6208_0893
M3 - Article
C2 - 21807828
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 62
SP - 893
EP - 899
JO - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
JF - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
IS - 8
ER -