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SELF-STIGMA AND COMING OUT ABOUT ONE'S MENTAL ILLNESS
Patrick W Corrigan1, Scott Morris, Jon Larson
1Illinois Institute of Technology.
Journal of Community Psychology
|August 24, 2013
Summary
Coming out as having a serious mental illness can improve quality of life by reducing self-stigma. The benefits of being out (BBO) positively impact mental health by mediating self-stigma effects.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Social Science
Background:
- Self-stigma negatively impacts self-esteem and self-efficacy in individuals with serious mental illness.
- Managing self-stigma is crucial for improving the quality of life for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate 'coming out' as a strategy for managing self-stigma in serious mental illness.
- To compare the effectiveness of 'coming out' with other self-stigma management approaches.
- To examine the mediating role of 'coming out' on the relationship between self-stigma and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-five individuals with serious mental illness completed validated measures.
- The Coming Out with Mental Illness Scale (COMIS) was used to assess 'coming out' behaviors.
- Exploratory factor analysis identified constructs within the COMIS and self-stigma management strategies.
Main Results:
- The COMIS yielded two factors: benefits of being out (BBO) and reasons for staying in.
- Mediational analysis revealed that BBO significantly diminished the negative effects of self-stigma on quality of life.
- Benefits of being out (BBO) correlated with affirming strategies and becoming aloof, but not with shame-based strategies.
Conclusions:
- 'Coming out' as a strategy, particularly its benefits (BBO), can enhance quality of life for individuals with serious mental illness.
- The findings suggest that promoting the benefits of being out may be an effective approach to mitigate self-stigma.
- Implications support interventions that encourage individuals to embrace 'coming out' to improve their overall well-being.
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