TY - JOUR
T1 - Stereotype Awareness, Self-Esteem and Psychopathology in People with Psychosis
AU - van Zelst, Catherine
AU - van Nierop, Martine
AU - Oorschot, Margreet
AU - Myin-Germeys, Inez
AU - van Os, Jim
AU - Delespaul, Philippe
PY - 2014/2/11
Y1 - 2014/2/11
N2 - Introduction: Stigma is an important environmental risk factor for a variety of outcomes schizophrenia. In order to understand and remediate its effects, research is required to assess how stigma experiences are processed at the level of the individual. To this end, stereotype awareness (SA) with respect to people with mental illness and their families was explored in persons with psychotic disorder. Method: Data from the Dutch Genetic Risk and OUtcome of Psychosis project (GROUP) were analyzed. SA was measured using scales that assess a respondent's perception of common opinions about people with a mental illness and their families. Results: People with higher level of self-esteem were less aware of stereotypes about patients and families. People with more severe psychopathology reported more awareness of stereotypes about families, not about patients. Conclusion: Enhancing psychological resources, by increasing self-esteem and the ability to cope with symptoms, can be targeted to diminish stereotype threat and improve stigma resilience. Interventions can be tailored to individual differences to increase their impact. Furthermore, in order to diminish detrimental consequences of negative stereotypes, mental health professionals, health educators and experts by experience can inform the public about mental illness and stigma.
AB - Introduction: Stigma is an important environmental risk factor for a variety of outcomes schizophrenia. In order to understand and remediate its effects, research is required to assess how stigma experiences are processed at the level of the individual. To this end, stereotype awareness (SA) with respect to people with mental illness and their families was explored in persons with psychotic disorder. Method: Data from the Dutch Genetic Risk and OUtcome of Psychosis project (GROUP) were analyzed. SA was measured using scales that assess a respondent's perception of common opinions about people with a mental illness and their families. Results: People with higher level of self-esteem were less aware of stereotypes about patients and families. People with more severe psychopathology reported more awareness of stereotypes about families, not about patients. Conclusion: Enhancing psychological resources, by increasing self-esteem and the ability to cope with symptoms, can be targeted to diminish stereotype threat and improve stigma resilience. Interventions can be tailored to individual differences to increase their impact. Furthermore, in order to diminish detrimental consequences of negative stereotypes, mental health professionals, health educators and experts by experience can inform the public about mental illness and stigma.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0088586
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0088586
M3 - Article
C2 - 24523918
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 9
JO - PLOS ONE
JF - PLOS ONE
IS - 2
M1 - e88586
ER -