How does stigma affect work in people with serious mental illnesses?

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Background:

• Stigma surrounding serious mental illness (SMI) presents a significant barrier to employment.
• Public stigma and self-stigma are distinct constructs that may differentially impact work histories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of public stigma and self-stigma on current and lifetime work participation in individuals with SMI.
• To explore specific facets of stigma, such as stereotypes of dangerousness and responsibility, in relation to employment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 85 individuals with SMI reported on their current (past 3 months, past year) and lifetime work history.
• Participants completed validated measures assessing public stigma and self-stigma, including specific stereotype endorsement.

Main Results:

• Endorsement of public stigma was significantly associated with a lifetime history of work.
• Self-stigma demonstrated a significant association with current work history.
• The 'dangerousness' stereotype of public stigma specifically correlated with lifetime work.
• Later stages of self-stigma (application to self and harm to self-esteem) were linked to current work.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the differential impact of public and self-stigma on various work histories in serious mental illness.
• Interventions aimed at reducing both public and self-stigma are crucial for improving employment outcomes for this population.
• Targeting specific stigma components, like the dangerousness stereotype, may be effective for enhancing lifetime work participation.