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Internalized Stigma Predicts Life Engagement in People With Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study in a
Stefano Barlati1,2, Gabriele Nibbio1, Lorenzo Bertoni1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy.
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry
|March 5, 2026
Summary
Internalized stigma and higher clinical severity predict lower life engagement in schizophrenia patients. Addressing stigma is crucial for improving patient outcomes and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Determinants of Health
Background:
- Schizophrenia patients face significant stigma, often internalizing it.
- Internalized stigma negatively impacts clinical and recovery outcomes.
- The effect of internalized stigma on life engagement in schizophrenia is under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate predictors of life engagement in schizophrenia.
- Hypothesize internalized stigma as a predictor of reduced life engagement.
- Examine socio-demographic, clinical, functional, and medication-related variables.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 94 schizophrenia participants.
- Utilized validated instruments for life engagement, symptoms, stigma, and functioning.
- Stepwise multivariate linear regression analyzed predictors of life engagement.
Main Results:
- Global clinical severity, fewer years of education, and greater stigma endorsement predicted reduced life engagement.
- These factors explained a significant portion of the variance in life engagement (Adjusted R² = .649).
Conclusions:
- Internalized stigma is an individual predictor of worse life engagement in schizophrenia.
- Stigma, particularly internalized stigma, should be a treatment target in schizophrenia management.
- Addressing stigma can improve patient-reported outcomes and recovery perspectives.
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