Effect of Internalized Stigma on Self-Esteem and Loneliness among Mentally Ill Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Psychiatric and Mental health nursing

2 Assistant Professor Psychiatric and Mental health nursing Department, Faculty of nursing, Tanta University

3 Lecturer of Psychiatric and Mental health nursing Department, Faculty of nursing, Benha University

Abstract

Recent research studies have shown that, stigma against people with mental illness is universal. Stigmatized individuals have been found to face a variety of social and emotional consequences including social withdrawal, lowered self-esteem and increased levels of negative affect.  This study was a descriptive correlational. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between internalized stigma, self-esteem and loneliness among mentally ill patients. The study was conducted in inpatient ward of Benha Mental Health Hospital. Four instruments were used for collecting the data, socio-demographic and clinical data sheet, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and UCLA loneliness scale. A convenient sample of 100 psychiatric patients was recruited in this study. The main results revealed that, there were negative correlation between internalizing stigma and self-esteem and show positive correlation with loneliness among studied subjects. The study recommended that there is an urgent need for developing strategies to fight internalized stigma associated with mental illness.

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