The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to devaluation/discrimination and rejection experiences among users of mental health services.

Author

  • Bertil Lundberg
  • Lars Hansson
  • Elisabeth Wentz
  • Tommy Björkman

Summary, in English

Background A major goal in mental health research and policy is to identify ways to reduce stigma among persons with mental illness.

Aims The aims of the present study were to (1) investigate the prevalence of rejection and devaluation/discrimination in a cross-sectional sample of 200 individuals with experiences of mental illness and (2) investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical, client characteristics and perceived devaluation/discrimination and experiences of rejection.

Methods A total of 200 subjects in current contact with mental health services or with earlier experiences of this were interviewed regarding beliefs about devaluation/discrimination and rejection experiences.

Results The results showed that subjects with a higher degree of global functioning perceived less devaluation/discrimination. With regard to rejections experiences associations were found between rejection experiences and global functioning, number of admissions to inpatient psychiatric care and current contact with social services.

Conclusion Further research should investigate the causal relationship between stigma experiences and psychosocial functioning. To understand what consequences perceived devaluation/discrimination has for the afflicted, a psychological and social approach in the research must be taken into consideration.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

295-300

Publication/Series

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Volume

42

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Steinkopff

Topic

  • Nursing

Keywords

  • discrimination
  • devaluation
  • stigma
  • mental illness

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0933-7954