No description available.

Although findings from a pilot study indicate that caregivers of persons with dementia (PwD) report feeling stigmatized (Burgener, 2007; Burgener & Buckwalter, 2010), little research has been conducted on the effects of perceived stigma on fostering depressive symptoms among caregivers of PwD. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived stigma and depressive symptoms among caregivers of PwD. The Modified Labeling Theory (MLT) developed by Link et. al. (1987; 1989) served as the organizing framework. The design of this study was a mixed methods approach including a descriptive longitudinal design with a qualitative interview. Caregivers of PwD (n=51) were interviewed regarding ethnic background, geographic location (rural and urban), knowledge of dementia, perceived stigma, depressive symptoms, and were asked to rate the extent of PwD's behavioral symptoms, while PwD (n=47) were assessed on their mental ability and disease stage. Caregivers were also asked to share their perceptions of stigma and mood change once their family members were diagnosed. Pearson product-moment correlations and a linear mixed model analysis determined the relationship between variables; for qualitative analysis, a directed approach to content analysis was applied. Findings indicated that caregivers' perceptions of stigma were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, both at baseline (r = 0.357, p = 0.0175) and over 18 months (p = 0.0045). Results also indicated that caregivers of PwD felt more depressed when they perceived additional stigma (p = 0.0019), regardless of caregiver ethnicity/race and caregivers' reactions in response to PwD memory and behavior problems. Moreover, perceived stigma minimally mediated the effect between caregivers' reactions toward the PwD's memory and behavior problems and depressive symptoms (14.4% decrease in the coefficient). Analysis of the qualitative data provided preliminary validation of the MLT and an in-depth understanding of caregivers' mood change since the diagnosis of their family member. Together our findings suggest that depressive symptoms among caregivers of PwD in response to the stresses of perceived stigma underscore the seriousness of this social problem. There is a need for effective interventions to combat caregivers' perceived stigma in order to enhance their psychological well-being.

LGBTQ individuals may be at risk for suicidal behavior due to perceived stigma and psychopathology. However, protective factors, such as community connectedness, may reduce risk. We examined depression and anxiety as mediators of the linkage between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior, and the moderating role of LGBTQ community connectedness. Among our sample of LGBTQ persons (N = 496), psychopathology mediated the association between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior. Connectedness moderated the relation between perceived stigma and depression, and between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior in the anxiety model. Therapeutically addressing stigma and promoting LGBTQ community connectedness may reduce risk for suicidal behavior.

LGBTQ individuals may be at risk for suicidal behavior due to perceived stigma and psychopathology. However, protective factors, such as community connectedness, may reduce risk. We examined depression and anxiety as mediators of the linkage between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior, and the moderating role of LGBTQ community connectedness. Among our sample of LGBTQ persons (N = 496), psychopathology mediated the association between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior. Connectedness moderated the relation between perceived stigma and depression, and between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior in the anxiety model. Therapeutically addressing stigma and promoting LGBTQ community connectedness may reduce risk for suicidal behavior.

Premenstruellt syndrom (PMS) och menstruation är stigmatiserade ämnen. Det kan ge kvinnor bristande självkänsla och hjälper till att upprätthålla den negativa tonen i diskussionen vilket gör att de kan vara svårt eller till och med tabu att prata om. Stigma från våra närstående kan bidra till ökad självstigmatisering. Studiens syfte var att undersöka vilka samband det finns mellan PMS, självstigmatisering, uppfattat stigma och ålderns interaktionseffekt på dessa. Även hur kvinnor talat och talar om PMS undersöktes. Studien utfördes på 88 kvinnor i fertil ålder som besvarade en enkät som innefattade sammanlagt 40 frågor varav tre var öppna. Resultatet visade inget samband mellan PMS och självstigma. Positiva samband fanns mellan PMS och uppfattat stigma. Undersökningen visade också på positiv korrelation mellan självstigma och uppfattat stigma. I och med att undersökningen ej påvisade något samband mellan PMS och självstigma diskuterades om att en diskursförändring kan vara på gång.

No description available.

Stigma is a multi-facetted construct that permeates the daily lives of sexual minorities including perceptions of self and social interactions. While research findings are ubiquitous on the negative mental health outcomes of living with a stigmatized identity (Link & Phelan, 2001), little is known about how perceived stigma may influence relationship satisfaction among sexual minorities. The present study investigated the relationship between perceived stigma and relationship satisfaction and whether psychological distress served as a mediating mechanism. Furthermore, a unique aspect of this study is its examination of multiple domains of stigma. Results indicated that sexual minorities experienced more perceived discrimination, public stigma, and self-stigma than heterosexuals as well as were less out about their sexuality. Main results did not support psychological distress as mediator but did reveal that self-stigma was significantly related to decreased relationship satisfaction among sexual minorities. Future research should focus on further elucidating the relationship between self-stigma and relationship satisfaction.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of the current study was to examine a process model of combat-related and mental-illness related processes that explain increased likelihood of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This dissertation proposed the development of PTSD may occur due to cultural, social, and self-related pathways associated with veterans’ dual encounters with combat (i.e., severity) and mental illness symptoms. Participants were 195 military veterans recruited from multiple sites and strategies to maximize sample size and representation. Participants were asked to complete several self-administered assessment inventories, including: the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military, the Trauma Symptom Checklist, the Combat Experiences scale, the Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, an adapted version of the Iraq War Attitude Scale, a perceptions scale, an adapted version of the Likelihood of Disclosure Scale, the Unit Support Scale, the Post-Deployment Support Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3), as well as covariates that included demographics and details of military service (e.g., deployment information). Overall, results revealed that the impaired social support indicator of social isolation was linked to PTSD, whereas impaired unit support and impaired postdeployment support were not predictive of PTSD. Results also revealed that it is the cultural stereotypes and stigma associated with military and war but not of mental illness that plays a role in social isolation and subsequently PTSD. Overall, evidence supports the combined explanations of combat-related processes and mental illness processes in understanding likelihood of PTSD.