Self-stigma among Chinese people with mental illness: An exploratory study with a Taiwanese sample

Main objectives of this study are (1) to probe the phenomena of the self-stigmatization of people with mental illness in Taiwan, (2) to investigate the relationships between self-stigmatization and self-efficacy and self-esteem, (3) to improve and test theoretical models of self-stigmatization of mental illness and (4) to explore whether the fundamental cultural values play a role in shaping the relationships among self-stigmatization and the constructs of self-concept.; A conceptual framework dealing with the effects of self-stigma on the self-concepts is presented. In the framework, the process of self-stigmatization among people with mental illness is demonstrated as a sequence from "stereotype awareness" to "stereotype agreement", to "self-concurrence", and to "self-decrement." Eight hypotheses which reflect the main ideas of the framework are formulated and tested with the samples of people with mental illness in Taiwan. The number of valid samples for the study is 182. The criteria for recruiting participants included: (1) a diagnosis of a chronic psychiatric disability from a psychiatrists; (2) having received or currently receiving psychiatric treatment; (3) having hold a certificate of psychiatric disability from the government; and (4) ability to complete a 30-minute paper-and-pencil survey.; Three hypotheses regarding the sequence of self-stigmatization got supported at the significant level of .001. The data reconfirm this sequence model significantly with an increasing pattern of influencing of strength along the path. The hypothesis concerning the effect of "stereotype agreement" on "self-efficacy" with "depression" being firstly taken out as a control variable was also supported. However, one hypothesis was not supported; that is the data demonstrated "stereotype agreement" did have an effect on "self-esteem," in the condition of "depression" was accounted for. Two hypotheses regarding the effect of "self-concurrence" on self-concept with "depression" being taken out have not conclusion. Regarding the effects of cultural value variables, hypothesis on the collectivism value orientation of Taiwanese people was supported, as well as some consistent evidences for the conventional anticipations of cross-cultural analysis on mental illness stigma were found.