No description available.

No description available.

Mental health services suffer the substantial limitation of helping only those who seek their assistance. Previous research has demonstrated that mental health stigma, including social and self-stigma, is one of the most significant barriers to an individual seeking available mental health services. Additionally, low levels of social proximity to mental illness may be a significant factor in increased social and self-stigma. Informed by ecological systems theory, this research examined demographic (i.e., gender, race/ethnicity, university) and social proximity factors (i.e., level of familiarity with mental illness and mental health services) that contributed to the mental health stigma associated with seeking mental health services within a university population. Web-based survey responses from 410 undergraduate students at two universities were obtained. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that while controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, and university, having personally received mental health services predicted lower levels of mental health self-stigma. Consistent with previous findings, a significant predictive quality of social stigma towards self-stigma was also found. However, none of the models utilizing social proximity factors to predict social stigma were significant. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. / Ph. D.

Poverty is an important socio-economic problem with serious negative consequences for consumers worldwide. Currently, there are approximately 57 million Americans considered as the "marginal poor" and 37 million Americans categorized as the "extreme poor" (Newman and Chen 2007). The nuances between these two different forms of impoverishment as well as other forms of poverty (e.g., the urban poor, the rural poor, the immigrant poor) highlight the multi-dimensional and dynamic nature of poverty with economic, social, cultural, motivational, and even political aspects (Chakravarti 2006). Despite the importance of this research domain, little research in marketing has examined multiple faces of poverty and the ways impoverished consumers socially construct the meaning of deprivation. This research offers the first in-depth ethnographic investigation exploring different social constructions of poverty and multiple social identities adopted by the poor within the same geographically bounded setting. While much of the current conceptualization of poverty in the consumer research literature explore poverty from a structural perspective and assume that the poor share a collective social identity, I suggest an alternate conceptualization of poverty that includes the poor consumer's coping strategies and resources, perceptions of various forms of deprivation, and agency construction through five distinct social identities. The Association for Consumer Research through the Sheth Foundation (http://www.acrweb.org) and the American Marketing Association (http://www.marketingpower.com) provided financial support for this research in the form of dissertation grants. / Ph. D.

Over the years, growing concerns were raised about the serious effect that HIV stigma has on the global HIV and AIDS-prevention response, with appeals to regard HIV stigma reduction as one of the most important factors that need to be addressed in any HIV-prevention strategy. Studies have found scant evidence of comprehensive community-based approaches to reduce stigma, as few of the existing strategies address the community, but maintain the focus mainly on behaviour change in the individual. This research study is a follow-up study to two other studies. The first study focused on people living with HIV (PLWH) and nurses in health care settings; and the second was a trans-disciplinary, comprehensive, community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness-enhancement intervention that involved PLWH and people living close to them (PLC). This HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention was specifically planned as an intervention for the community, targeting PLWH and their community members who live in the same ward in the Tlokwe municipality in the North West Province of South Africa. The objectives of the study were to explore, describe and determine whether an HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention in a South African urban area will make a difference in the HIV stigma experiences of PLWH, as well as related stigmatisation by their community; to describe the implementation of this intervention; and to determine the change in depression and psychosocial well-being of PLWH and their community before and after the intervention. The HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention defines a “hub” as a two-person mobiliser team consisting of a PLWH and a non-infected PLC who are inhabitants of the same community and functions from a “hub” in the community. The strategy is based upon the involvement of PLWH and PLC, as community mobilisers, who share their knowledge and who mobilise and empower their own community to reduce HIV stigma. A convergent parallel mixed-method design with a single case pre-test post-test design for the quantitative data, and an interpretive description approach for the qualitative data were utilised. The sample for this study included PLWH recruited through accessibility sampling as well as community members living in the same municipal ward through random voluntary sampling. Valid measures were used to determine and describe whether the HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention will affect change in the HIV stigma experiences of PLWH, the perceived stigmatisation by their community, as well as the depression and psychosocial well-being of both PLWH and the community. A sub-sample of both groups was selected by means of purposive voluntary sampling for the qualitative part of the study, consisting of in-depth interviews about stigma experiences of PLWH, as well as stigmatisation of the community toward PLWH. For the description of the HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention, a holistic single-case study design was used. Participants were recruited according to accessibility, during the various community activities, with no differentiation between PLWH and people of unknown HIV status residing in that community. Findings indicate that the HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention, as planned and implemented, was successful in initiating the onset of changes in a community through the PLWH and PLC, as community mobilisers were active in the community “hub” network to mobilise their own communities towards HIV stigma reduction, sharing their knowledge and mobilising and empowering their own community. Changes were observed on an individual and social level. Recommendations focus on using and strengthening the present community intervention, adjusting some of the scales used in this study and ensuring stronger collaboration between health and social disciplines to address the various manifestations and to change the contexts of HIV stigma. It is furthermore recommended that future HIV stigma-reduction interventions give special attention to addressing aspects of psychosocial well-being. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Over the years, growing concerns were raised about the serious effect that HIV stigma has on the global HIV and AIDS-prevention response, with appeals to regard HIV stigma reduction as one of the most important factors that need to be addressed in any HIV-prevention strategy. Studies have found scant evidence of comprehensive community-based approaches to reduce stigma, as few of the existing strategies address the community, but maintain the focus mainly on behaviour change in the individual. This research study is a follow-up study to two other studies. The first study focused on people living with HIV (PLWH) and nurses in health care settings; and the second was a trans-disciplinary, comprehensive, community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness-enhancement intervention that involved PLWH and people living close to them (PLC). This HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention was specifically planned as an intervention for the community, targeting PLWH and their community members who live in the same ward in the Tlokwe municipality in the North West Province of South Africa. The objectives of the study were to explore, describe and determine whether an HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention in a South African urban area will make a difference in the HIV stigma experiences of PLWH, as well as related stigmatisation by their community; to describe the implementation of this intervention; and to determine the change in depression and psychosocial well-being of PLWH and their community before and after the intervention. The HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention defines a “hub” as a two-person mobiliser team consisting of a PLWH and a non-infected PLC who are inhabitants of the same community and functions from a “hub” in the community. The strategy is based upon the involvement of PLWH and PLC, as community mobilisers, who share their knowledge and who mobilise and empower their own community to reduce HIV stigma. A convergent parallel mixed-method design with a single case pre-test post-test design for the quantitative data, and an interpretive description approach for the qualitative data were utilised. The sample for this study included PLWH recruited through accessibility sampling as well as community members living in the same municipal ward through random voluntary sampling. Valid measures were used to determine and describe whether the HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention will affect change in the HIV stigma experiences of PLWH, the perceived stigmatisation by their community, as well as the depression and psychosocial well-being of both PLWH and the community. A sub-sample of both groups was selected by means of purposive voluntary sampling for the qualitative part of the study, consisting of in-depth interviews about stigma experiences of PLWH, as well as stigmatisation of the community toward PLWH. For the description of the HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention, a holistic single-case study design was used. Participants were recruited according to accessibility, during the various community activities, with no differentiation between PLWH and people of unknown HIV status residing in that community. Findings indicate that the HIV stigma-reduction community “hub” network intervention, as planned and implemented, was successful in initiating the onset of changes in a community through the PLWH and PLC, as community mobilisers were active in the community “hub” network to mobilise their own communities towards HIV stigma reduction, sharing their knowledge and mobilising and empowering their own community. Changes were observed on an individual and social level. Recommendations focus on using and strengthening the present community intervention, adjusting some of the scales used in this study and ensuring stronger collaboration between health and social disciplines to address the various manifestations and to change the contexts of HIV stigma. It is furthermore recommended that future HIV stigma-reduction interventions give special attention to addressing aspects of psychosocial well-being. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The internalization of mental illness stigma is associated with an array of negative consequences; however, not all individuals experience the deleterious effects of internalized mental illness stigma. The present dissertation focuses on factors associated with internalized stigma, and will be the first to examine simultaneously both risk (i.e., shame, shame proneness and shame aversion, insight, and centrality and valence) and protective factors (social support and self-compassion) of internalized mental illness stigma. Using two of the most widely used assessments of internalized mental illness stigma (i.e., Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale [SSMIS] and the Internalized Mental Illness Scale [ISMI]), risk and protective factors were examined among adults recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT; n = 215) and Facebook (n = 153) who self-reported a mental illness diagnosis. Whereas among AMT participants, shame proneness and centrality were significant predictors of the process of internalization of mental illness stigma (measured by the Stereotype Self-Concurrence subscale of the SSMIS), among Facebook participants centrality was the only significant predictor of process of the internalization of mental illness stigma. In addition, whereas among AMT participants, shame proneness (measured by the PFQ-2), centrality, valence, and social support were significant predictors of the experience of internalized stigma (measured by the ISMI), among Facebook participants state shame, centrality, valence, and social support were significant predictors of the experience of internalized stigma. Thus, centrality was the only significant risk factor across measures and samples. It is possible that the current dissertation may help to differentiate individuals at particular risk for internalization and ultimately to harness resilience for those diagnosed with a mental illness, particularly among those diagnosed with mood or anxiety-related diagnoses.

The study is about how home and consumer teachers perceive weight stigmatization among students in lower secondary education when the physical development is ongoing and the students are affected by, among other things, each other, and ideals. In Sweden, the ideal of thinness is the norm. Previous research shows that weight stigma occurs in most settings. One of the most common stereotypical prejudices is that overweight individuals eat a lot. Therefore, a survey was conducted on whether the teachers perceived that student carried out weight stigmatization in connection with a topic that deals with cooking. This was done by conducting five semi-structural in-depth interviews with teachers who were working with home- and consumer studies at a lower secondary school in Sweden at the time of the interviews. A thematic analysis was made of the interview material, which was analyzed using the stigma theory. The respondents perceived that there is less weight stigma than expected given the previous research. According to the respondents, the education of teachers was perceived to be deficient in the subject of weight stigmatization. Lack of education about the subject affects knowledge about it and in turn the weight stigma becomes unclear. / Studien handlar om hur lärare i hem- och konsumentkunskap uppfattar viktstigmatisering bland elever i högstadiet då den kroppsliga utvecklingen pågåroch eleverna påverkas bland annat av varandra och ideal. I Sverige är smalhetsidealet normen. Tidigare forskning visar att viktstigmatisering sker i de flesta miljöer. En av de vanligaste stereotypiska fördomarna är att överviktiga individer äter mycket. Därför gjordes en undersökning om hur lärare uppfattade att elever utförde viktstigmatisering i samband med ett ämne som handlar om matlagning. Detta gjordes genom att göra fem semi-strukturella djupintervjue rmed hem- och konsumentkunskaps-lärare som arbetade som det på högstadiet i Sverige vid tiden för intervjuerna. Av intervjumaterialet gjordes en tematisk analys som analyserades med hjälp av stigmateorin. Respondenterna uppfattade att det förekommer mindre viktstigmatisering än vad som förväntats med tanke på den tidigare forskningen. Undervisningen för hem- och konsumentkunskapslärare uppfattades vara bristfällig i ämnet viktstigmatisering enligt respondenterna. Bristande undervisning om ämnet påverkar kunskapen om det och i sin tur blir viktstigmatiseringen otydlig.

This interdisciplinary study combines epidemiological data with anthropological theory to investigate the relationship between HIV transmission rates and systemic homophobia. Previous research has illustrated the link between high levels of structural violence and structural stigma to increased risk of diseases such as the link between African-Americans and heart disease. This study investigates the relationship between systemic homophobia and HIV transmission rates. Through operationalizing homophobia into seven distinct factors, I evaluated systemic homophobia in six countries, assigning a score 1-10 to each factor using secondary source aggregation. I compared composite scores, as well as scores in each operationalized factor to HIV transmission rates in those countries. The results of this study indicate a correlation between systemic homophobia and increased HIV transmission, particularly in respect to the factors Marriage Equality, LGBT Laws, Religiosity, LGBT Visibility, and Hate Crimes. Though various sociocultural factors play a role in HIV transmission, this study indicates that homophobia plays an integral role in HIV transmission. This project has pertinent applications in epidemiology, anthropology and public health illustrating the integral role of sociocultural and systemic factors that increase structural violence and risk for a disease.

<p>The appeal of Allport&rsquo / s Contact Hypothesis lies in the simplicity of its core principle, which holds that contact between different groups may serve to reduce prejudices. Contact needs to meet key conditions, i.e. equal power, cooperation towards a common goal and institutional support. Support has been found for the Contact Hypothesis in its original form and for those contacts which fail to meet the specified conditions. This study sought to explore whether contact, in forms different to those traditionally defined by the Contact Hypothesis, i.e. exposure, had any bearing on group prejudice. The prejudice and its underlying negative attitudes of interest, were those informed by HIV and AIDS stigma. HIV and AIDS stigma, defined as a discrediting quality and informed by social processes, is of particular concern as it impedes prevention, treatment and care efforts in South Africa&rsquo / s response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The health care context is often an area where Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) are confronted with HIV and AIDS stigma. The research aims were thus to explore the extent of HIV and AIDS stigma amongst health care workers, the forms of exposure to PLHIV and the relationship between exposure and HIV and AIDS stigma. A quantitative, survey design was employed to accomplish these aims and to test formulated hypotheses, which were based on current literature and the core principle of the Contact Hypothesis. The sample consisted of 202 health care workers in the Cape Town metropole. Data analyses revealed the existence of low to moderate levels of HIV and AIDS stigma and also found that most of the sample had exposure to PLHIV in either its individual forms or overall form. Bivariate correlations revealed negative relationships between forms of exposure, overall exposure and stigma.</p>