Since its emergence in the U.S., HIV has been a stigmatized illness. People living with HIV (PLH) are a minority and prone to psychological distress and poor mental health outcomes due to HIV-related stigma. PLH who identify with another minority group in addition to being HIV-positive (e.g., gay, African-American) experience multiple forms of oppression or layered stigma. Affirmative social support and resilience are negatively associated with HIV-stigma and are important coping resources for PLH. We used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design study involving a quantitative survey phase and a qualitative interview phase. We explored whether social support and resilience (Positive Psychological Resources) mediate or moderate the relationship between HIV Stigma and Psychological Distress among HIV-positive adults using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling and multiple regressions. Via PLS, we found Positive Psychological Resources partially mediated the relationship between HIV Stigma and Psychological Distress: the path between HIV Stigma and Psychological distress reduced (from t = 5.49, p = .000 to t = 2.39, p = .000) but remained statistically significant. Similarly, via regression, the Sobel test was significant (Sobel = .26, SE = .07, z = 3.63, p = .000). However, moderation was not found (HIV Stigma x Positive Psychological Resources β = .05, t = .66, p = .508). Overall, our quantitative survey and qualitative interview data were consistent. We anticipate that our findings will inform strengths-based therapeutic interventions to mitigate stress and stigma among PLH.

Background. While the prevalence of a pathogenic variant in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes occurs in about 1:400 (0.25%) in the general population, the prevalence is as high as 1:40 (2.5%) among the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Despite cost-effective preventive measures for mutation carriers, Orthodox Jews constitute a cultural and religious group that presents challenges to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing. This study analyzed a dialogue of key stakeholders and community members to explore factors that influence decision-making about BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing in the New York Orthodox Jewish community. Methods. Qualitative research methods, based in Grounded Theory and Narrative Research, were utilized to analyze the narratives of key stakeholders and community members in an analysis of qualitative data collected from 49 stakeholders. A content analysis was conducted to identify themes; inter-rater reliability was 71%. Results. Facilitators to genetic testing were prevention and education, while barriers to genetic testing included negative emotions, impact on family/romantic relationships, cost, and stigma. The role of religious figures and healthcare professionals in medical decision-making were viewed as controversial. Education, health, and community were discussed as influential factors. There were issues around disclosure, implementation, and information needs. Conclusion. This study revealed the voices of the Orthodox Jewish women (decision-makers) and key stakeholders (influencers) who play a critical role in the medical decision-making process. The findings have broad implications for engaging community stakeholders within faith-based or culturally distinct groups to ensure better utilization of healthcare services for cancer screening and prevention designed to improve population health.

Stigma is broadly considered as an important obstacle in HIV prevention and treatment. In Mozambique, more PLWHIV have access to treatment than ever. ART increased their QoL and created a new context for stigma production. This cross-sectional study conducted in Northern Mozambique explored a possible association between stigma and QoL. The Berger Stigma Scale and WHOQOL-BREF were used to measure levels of HIV-related stigma and perceived QoL in two groups of PLWHIV receiving ARV, with participation in a HBC programme as the independent variable. The study uncovered a weak to moderate negative correlation between stigma and QoL scores. Statistically significant differences were discovered between the groups’ scores on the Berger Stigma Scale and a higher perceived QoL for PLWHIV in the HBC group on three WHOQOL-BREF subscales and on the overall score. The scores on the social relationships subscale indicated lower perceived QoL for PLWHIV in the HBC group. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Stigma is broadly considered as an important obstacle in HIV prevention and treatment. In Mozambique, more PLWHIV have access to treatment than ever. ART increased their QoL and created a new context for stigma production. This cross-sectional study conducted in Northern Mozambique explored a possible association between stigma and QoL. The Berger Stigma Scale and WHOQOL-BREF were used to measure levels of HIV-related stigma and perceived QoL in two groups of PLWHIV receiving ARV, with participation in a HBC programme as the independent variable. The study uncovered a weak to moderate negative correlation between stigma and QoL scores. Statistically significant differences were discovered between the groups’ scores on the Berger Stigma Scale and a higher perceived QoL for PLWHIV in the HBC group on three WHOQOL-BREF subscales and on the overall score. The scores on the social relationships subscale indicated lower perceived QoL for PLWHIV in the HBC group. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Besides constituting major obstacle to effectively addressing HIV/AIDS, Stigma has remained among the least understood experiences of PLWHA. Limited knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS related S&D has very much contributed to poor implementation and in most cases failure of HIV intervention programmes at national, regional and international levels. Sociological analysis of Stigma in PLWHA lends verifiable insight into the nature, extent and comprehensiveness of HIV/AIDS related Stigma. With 129 participants from Gauteng regions of Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and West Rand, the study confirms that Stigma and Discrimination (S&D) still thrives, quantifying its magnitude, implications and impacts in the lives of the HIV infected. Inter alia, the findings showcase the complex matrix analysis of emotion and behaviour associated with HIV/AIDS related S&D. Finally, the study offered a comprehensive recommendation on how to address HIV/AIDS related S&D at individual/family, institutional/community and government levels. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the problem of VVF-HIV/AIDS, stigmatization, the threat to the human dignity of women and the role of the church, with specific reference to the role of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA). In order to show this, models of practical theology methodology were used as theoretical and methodological basis for the study. Practical theology is as a study area deals with the praxis of God, i.e. salvific and eschatological involvement and engagement with the trajectories of human lives and the suffering of human beings. Within the context of theological reflection, it involves man’s attempt to express and portray the presence and will of God in such a way that meaning in life and comfort is contextually disclosed and discovered (Louw, 2008:71). Having established the latter, the focus falls firstly on the description of the conditions addressed in the study about VVF-HIV/AIDS and its prevalence in Northern Nigeria. A detailed contextual study also shows that a variety of factors impact negatively on the status and well-being of women in the area. Traditional, cultural, economic, political and religious factors are either uniquely applicable to or aggravate the status and well-being of the subjects of the research, namely women suffering from VVF-HIV/AIDS in Northern Nigeria. It specifically involves the social and political context in which they live. It also shows that the existence and extent of these factors increase the vulnerability of women to contracting the HIV as well as VVF. The extent to which these factors, in combination with the latter conditions specifically promote the stigmatization of these women and the forms such stigmatization takes are also explored. Moving on to the issue of human dignity: a historical overview is given of the concept and it is defined for the purposes of the study. The extent to which the human dignity is affected in the study area is then investigated in light of their context, with particular reference to the women suffering from VVF-HIV/AIDS. It is concluded that the stigmatization to which the VVF-HIV/AIDS sufferers in Northern Nigeria are subjected, indeed constitutes a serious threat to their human dignity. In answering the question of whether the church (ECWA) has a responsibility towards these women and to address the issue of their stigmatization, two pastoral theological perspectives were used, that of the nature of the church and that of the concept of human dignity from a theological perspective. According to this perspective human beings have been created in the image of God. Having established that, on theological grounds, such a responsibility exists, a possible pastoral theological model for addressing the issue of the stigmatization of women suffering from VVF-HIV/AIDS was proposed. The church’s response to the challenge of VVF-HIV/AIDS is to come from its deepest theological convictions about the nature of creation, the unshakeable fidelity of God’s love, the nature of creation, the nature of the body of Christ and the reality of Christian hope. The creation narrative, which affirms that humanity is created in the image of God, links human beings to the love of God, which is modelled in the incarnation of Jesus. Moving on to the data analysis, the extent of the challenges of VVF-HIV/AIDS sufferers and the level of knowledge of the pastors of the subject of the stigmatization of young adult females sufferers of VVF-HIV/AIDS and their treatment of the issue were evident. Finally, recommendations were drawn up in order to provide basic understanding and awareness to ECWA on how to objectively address the problem of VVF-HIV/AIDS in Northern Nigeria. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op die probleem van VVF-HIV/AIDS, stigmatisering, die bedreiging van die menslike waardigheid van vroue en die rol van die kerk (ECWA). Om dit aan te toon, word die model van die praktiese teologie metodologie gebruik as 'n teoretiese en metodologiese basis vir die studie. Praktiese teologie handel oor die praxis van God, d.w.s. die verlossingsboodskap en eskatologiese betrokkenheid by en verbintenis met die trajekte van die menslike lewe en die lyding van die mens. Binne die konteks van teologiese refleksie, d.w.s. die menslike poging om aan 'n beeld van die teenwoordigheid en wil van God op so 'n manier uitdrukking te gee, word die betekenis daarvan in die lewe en troos kontekstueel geopenbaar en ontdek (Louw, 2008:71). Na laasgenoemde val die fokus eers op die beskrywing van die voorwaardes in die studie oor VVF-HIV/AIDS en die voorkoms daarvan in die noorde van Nigerië. ’n Gedetailleerde kontekstuele studie toon ook dat 'n verskeidenheid negatiewe faktore ‘n impak op die status en die welsyn van vroue in die area het. Tradisionele, kulturele, ekonomiese, politieke en godsdienstige faktore waarvan 'n paar óf uniek van toepassing is óf ‘n verswarende effek het op die navorsingskonteks van vroue wat in die noorde van Nigerië aan VVF-HIV/AIDS ly en spesifiek op die sosiale, politieke konteks waarin hulle leef. Daar word ook aangetoon dat die bestaan en omvang van hierdie faktore die vatbaarheid van vroue vir die kontraktering van die MIV-virus sowel as VVF, verhoog. Daar word ook gekyk na die wyse waarop hierdie faktore in kombinasie met bogenoemde voorwaardes spesifiek die bevordering van die stigmatisering van hierdie vroue teweegbring en na die vorme wat hierdie stigmatisering aanneem. Die kwessie van menslike waardigheid word ondersoek deur 'n historiese oorsig van die konsep te gee. Dit word vir die doeleindes van die studie gedefinieer. Die mate waarin menslike waardigheid in die studiearea ‘n rol speel, met spesifieke klem op die konteks van vroue wat ly aan VVF-HIV/AIDS, word ook nagegaan. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die menswaardigheid van die VVF-HIV/AIDS lyers in die noorde van Nigerië tot 'n groot mate in die lig van die stigmatisering hulle aan onderwerp word, aangetas word. Ter beantwoording van die vraag of die kerk (ECWA) 'n verantwoordelikheid teenoor hierdie vroue het om hul stigmatisering aan te spreek, word twee pastorale teologiese perspektiewe gebruik: dié van die aard van die kerk en van die konsep van menswaardigheid vanuit 'n teologiese perspektief waarvolgens die mens na die beeld van God geskep is. Nadat vasgestel is dat, op teologiese gronde, so 'n verantwoordelikheid wel bestaan, word 'n moontlike pastorale teologiese model vir die aanspreek van die kwessie van die stigmatisering van vroue wat ly aan VVF-HIV/AIDS voorgestel. Die kerk se reaksie op die uitdaging van VVF-HIV/AIDS spruit uit sy diepste teologiese oortuigings oor die onwrikbare getrouheid van God se liefde, die aard van die skepping, die aard van die liggaam van Christus en die werklikheid van die Christelike hoop. Die skeppingsverhaal, wat bevestig dat die mensdom in die beeld van God geskep is, verbind die mens aan die liefde van God, wat in die inkarnasie van Jesus gemodelleer word. Daar word dan beweeg na die data-analise, die omvang van die uitdagings van VVF-HIV/AIDS lyers en die vlak van kennis van die pastore oor die onderwerp van die stigmatisering van die jong volwasse vroulike lyers aan VVF-HIV/AIDS en hulle behandeling van die probleem. Ten slotte word aanbevelings gemaak ten einde basiese begrip/bewustheid te verskaf oor hoe die ECWA die probleem van VVF-HIV/AIDS in die noorde van Nigerië objektief kan aanspreek.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global estimates show that sub-Saharan Africa has the largest portion of HIV cases with South Africa having more people living with HIV than any other country in the world. Moreover, studies have shown a high incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among people living with HIV. IPV has been shown to be associated with mental health problems. Considerable empirical studies have demonstrated that HIV is a highly stigmatized disease. In addition, HIV-related stigma has also been shown to be a risk factor for mental health problems among persons living with HIV. However, no empirical studies have examined the combined effect of IPV and HIV-related stigma on mental health. This thesis builds on the existing body of research by examining to what extent the linear combination of IPV (timing and frequency) and HIV related stigma explained variation in symptoms of common mental health disorders in both men and women living with HIV. In addition, theoretical and empirical studies have suggested that social support may serve as a protective factor in the relationship between IPV, HIV-related stigma, and mental health. Yet, despite the increasing attention, no known studies have focused on the mediating or moderating role of social support in the relationship between IPV or HIV-related stigma, and mental health. This thesis examined the extent to which social support played a mediating or moderating role in these relationships. The study used a cross-sectional research design to study a convenience sample of 210 people living with HIV in three peri-urban areas in the Western Cape, South Africa. Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires that assessed IPV (timing and frequency), HIV-related stigma, social support, and symptoms of common mental health. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the linear combination of psychological aggression frequency and HIV related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of depression. Likewise, both physical assault timing and psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of variance in symptoms of depression. Psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma significantly explained variance in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results from the product-term regression analyses indicated that social support played a mediating role in the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of PTSD, but not depression. Social support did not moderate the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of common mental health disorders. In conclusion, the combination of IPV (physical assault and psychological aggression) and HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of common mental health disorders. Future research is needed for a better understanding of these relationships. A longitudinal experimental design is recommended in order to explore the direction of these relationships and to examine the context in which the IPV, HIV-related stigma, and social support is experienced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwye beramings toon dat sub-Sahara Afrika die grootste gedeelte van HIV gevalle te wêreld het, terwyl Suid-Afrika meer mense het wat met MIV leef as enige ander land in die wêreld. Verder het studies getoon dat daar 'n hoë voorkoms van intiemepaargeweld (IPV) is onder mense wat met MIV leef. Daar is al getoon dat IPV verband hou met geestelike probleme. Aansienlike empiriese studies het getoon dat MIV 'n hoogs gestigmatiseer siekte is. Daarbenewens, is daar getoon dat MIV-verwante stigma 'n risiko faktor is vir geestelike probleme onder persone wat leef met MIV. Daar is egter geen empiriese studies wat die gekombineerde effek van IPV en MIV-verwante stigma op geestesgesondheid ondersoek nie. Hierdie tesis bou voort op die bestaande navorsing deur te ondersoek tot watter mate die lineêre kombinasie van IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie) en MIV-verwante stigma variasie in die simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid afwykings verduidelik in beide mans en vroue wat met MIV leef. Daarbenewens, het teoretiese en empiriese studies voorgestel dat sosiale ondersteuning kan dien as 'n beskermende faktor in die verhouding tussen IPV, MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Tog, ten spyte van die toenemende aandag, het daar al geen studies gefokus op die bemiddelende of modererende rol van sosiale ondersteuning in die verhouding tussen IPV of MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die mate waarin sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende of modererende rol speel in hierdie verhoudings. Die studie het 'n deursnee-navorsing ontwerp gebruik om 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 210 mense wat met MIV leef in drie peri-stedelike gebiede in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika te bestudeer. Deelnemers het 'n battery van self-verslag vraelyste voltooi wat IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie), MIV-verwante stigma, sosiale ondersteuning, en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid geassesseer het. Die resultate van die hiërargiese meervoudige regressie-analise het getoon dat die lineêre kombinasie van sielkundige aggressie frekwensie en MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Net so, het beide fisiese aanranding tydsberekening en sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma het „n beduidende variansie in simptome van post-traumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV) verduidelik. Die resultate van die produk-term regressie-analises het aangedui dat sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende rol speel in die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van PTSV, maar nie depressie nie. Sosiale ondersteuning het nie die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings modereer nie. Ten slotte, die kombinasie van IPV (fisiese aanranding en sielkundige aggressie) en MIV-verwante stigma het 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings verduidelik. Toekomstige navorsing is nodig vir 'n beter begrip van hierdie verhoudings. 'n Longitudinale eksperimentele ontwerp word aanbeveel om die rigting van hierdie verhoudings te verken en die konteks waarin die IPV, MIV-verwante stigma en sosiale ondersteuning ervaar is te ondersoek.

精神病康復者認同和內化公眾對他們的污名思維會經驗自我污名的想法。然而，自我污名思維本身並不一定會導致慢性心理困擾。只有當自我污名經常和自動地出現，成為心理習慣，才會產生恆定的精神困擾。自我污名的心理過程應該區別於心理內容，獨立評估，和不被假定相同於所有康復者。本論文基於心理習慣範式概念化自我污名的過程。 / 研究一開發一項名為自我污名的自動化和重複程度的測量工具，並於95位康復者建立這工具與其短版的效度。共有百分之四十二點一的參加者報告自我污名習慣。較負面的自我污名內容、較強的負面經驗避免和較低的靜觀跟自我污名習慣有關。這習慣和較差的自尊、主觀生活質量和復元亦有關。 / 研究二測量自我污名相關概念的自動聯想模式。具有較強（人數 = 46）和較弱（人數 = 45）自我污名習慣的康復者接受一系列簡短內隱聯想測驗，評估內隱自我污名的三個部分：康復者身份對自我的內隱中心性，對精神病的內隱態度和內隱自尊。較強的身份中心性與自我污名習慣有關。內隱身份中心性也會通過自我污名習慣降低自尊和主觀生活質量。 / 研究三測量對自我污名相關概念的自動注意力。具有較強（人數 = 46）和較弱（人數 = 45）自我污名習慣的康復者接受一項情緒斯特魯普任務，評估他們為自我污名、自信與非情感的刺激命名顏色的反應潛伏期。強組對自我污名刺激的反應較快，反映他們對那些信息的情感含義有較少的自動注意力，因此對顏色命名任務有較少的干擾。 / 自我污名習慣的概念為自我污名的理論、評估和干預提供了新的觀點。由於自我污名對心理健康的影響是雙重由於負面內容和其慣性的出現，如只基於傳統、以內容為本的工具測量自我污名，其對康復者的影響有可能被低估。現有的干預計劃亦應加強針對與自我污名習慣有關的不良應對機制（負面經驗避免和缺乏靜觀）和偏頗信息處理（自動聯想和注意力偏見）。以靜觀和接納為本的心理治療提升康復者對目前時刻的意識與對自我污名思維的不加批判驗收，可減輕自我污名習慣。 / People with mental illness (PMI) may endorse and internalize public stigma directed against them and at times experience self-stigmatizing thinking. However, having self-stigmatizing thoughts per se does not necessarily lead to chronic psychological distress. Only when such thinking occurs frequently and automatically as a mental habit, this creates constant mental negotiation within the individuals, which may have deleterious effects on their mental health and recovery. Of note, the mental process should be distinguished from the mental content of self-stigmatizing thinking, assessed independently, and not be assumed to be homogeneous across all PMI. In a series of three studies, I conceptualized process aspects of self-stigmatizing thinking based on the mental habit paradigm. / Study 1 applied the construct of self-stigmatizing thinking habit in developing a new assessment tool, the Self-stigmatizing Thinking’s Automaticity and Repetition (STAR), and validated the STAR and its short form in a community sample of 95 PMI. Almost half (42.1%) of the participants reported habitual self-stigmatizing thinking. More negative cognitive content of self-stigmatizing thinking, greater experiential avoidance, and lower mindfulness contributed to stronger self-stigmatizing thinking habit. The adverse effects of the mental habit included lower self-esteem, decreased subjective quality of life, and poorer recovery. / Study 2 investigated the possibility of a pattern of more automatic self-stigma-relevant associations among habitual self-stigmatizing thinkers. A set of Brief Implicit Association Tests was administered to PMI with strong (n=44) and weak (n=50) self-stigmatizing thinking habit to assess the three components of implicit self-stigma: implicit centrality of the mental illness identity to the self, implicit attitudes toward mental illness, and implicit self-esteem. Greater implicit identity centrality, but not negative implicit attitudes toward mental illness and low implicit self-esteem, was predictive of stronger self-stigmatizing thinking habit. Implicit identity centrality also contributed to lower self-esteem and decreased subjective quality of life through self-stigmatizing thinking habit. / Study 3 examined the potential automatic attentional biases for self-stigmatizing information among habitual self-stigmatizing thinkers. An Emotional Stroop Task was administered to PMI with strong (n=46) and weak (n=45) self-stigmatizing thinking habit to assess response latencies in color-naming self-stigmatizing versus self-assurance versus non-affective words. The strong habit group was characterized by faster responses to the self-stigmatizing stimuli, reflecting their automatic attentional bias away from the emotional meaning of self-stigmatizing information and hence less interference effects on the color-naming task. / The construct of self-stigmatizing thinking habit offers new perspectives on self-stigma’s theory, assessment, and intervention. As the deleterious effects of self-stigma on mental health are due doubly to the negative content and habitual manifestation of self-stigmatizing thoughts, the impact of self-stigma on PMI may be underestimated if it is based solely on traditional content-oriented measures. Existing self-stigma intervention programmes, which are cognitive content-oriented, should be improved by additionally targeting the dysfunctional coping mechanisms (i.e., experiential avoidance and the lack of mindfulness) and information-processing biases (i.e., automatic evaluation and attentional biases) involved in the mental habit. In mitigating self-stigmatizing thinking habit, practitioners may apply psychotherapies based on mindfulness and acceptance in order to enhance present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance of self-stigmatizing thoughts. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chan, Ka Shing Kevin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-149). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendixes in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xii / Abbreviations --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Self-Stigmatizing Thinking as Mental Habit --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Theoretical Conceptualizations of Habit --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Theoretical Conceptualizations of Mental Habit --- p.3 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Self-Stigma in People with Mental Illness --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1. --- The Consequences of Self-Stigma for Mental Health of People with Mental Illness --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2. --- The Roots of Self-Stigma in People with Mental Illness --- p.5 / Chapter 2.3. --- Self-Stigma Interventions for People with Mental Illness --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- Cognitive Content-Oriented Interventions for Self-Stigma --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- Cognitive Process-Oriented Interventions for Self-Stigma --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4. --- Gaps in Research on Self-Stigma in People with Mental Illness --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Theoretical Conceptualizations of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking Habit --- p.15 / Chapter 3.1. --- The Mental Content of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking --- p.15 / Chapter 3.2. --- The Mental Process of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- The Frequency of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- The Automaticity of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking --- p.18 / Chapter 3.3. --- The Consequences of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking Habit for Mental Health of People with Mental Illness --- p.19 / Chapter 3.4. --- Interventions for Self-Stigmatizing Thinking Habit in People with Mental Illness --- p.20 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Empirical Assessment of Self-Stigmatizing Thinking Habit --- p.24 / Chapter 4.1. --- The Self-stigmatizing Thinking‘s Automaticity and Repetition (STAR) Scale --- p.24 / Chapter 4.2. --- Implicit Association Test --- p.27 / Chapter 4.3. --- Emotional Stroop Task --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Overview of the Studies --- p.34 / Chapter 5.1. --- Objectives --- p.34 / Chapter 5.2. --- Long-Term Impact --- p.35 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Study 1 Assessing Self-stigmatizing Thinking Habit Using a Self-Reported Questionnaire: A Validation Study of the Self-stigmatizing Thinking’s Automaticity and Repetition (STAR) Scale in People with Mental Illness --- p.38 / Chapter 6.1. --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 6.2. --- Method --- p.39 / Chapter 6.2.1. --- Participants --- p.39 / Chapter 6.2.2. --- Procedure --- p.39 / Chapter 6.2.3. --- Measures --- p.40 / Chapter 6.2.3.1. --- Sociodemographic, clinical, and social contact characteristics --- p.40 / Chapter 6.2.3.2. --- Self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.40 / Chapter 6.2.3.3. --- Self-stigmatizing cognitive content --- p.40 / Chapter 6.2.3.4. --- Self-esteem --- p.41 / Chapter 6.2.3.5. --- Self-identity --- p.41 / Chapter 6.2.3.6. --- Experiential avoidance --- p.41 / Chapter 6.2.3.7. --- Mindfulness --- p.42 / Chapter 6.2.3.8. --- Subjective quality of life --- p.42 / Chapter 6.2.3.9. --- Recovery --- p.42 / Chapter 6.2.4. --- Data Analyses --- p.43 / Chapter 6.3. --- Power Calculation --- p.44 / Chapter 6.4. --- Results --- p.45 / Chapter 6.4.1. --- Participant characteristics --- p.45 / Chapter 6.4.2. --- Score distribution on the STAR --- p.46 / Chapter 6.4.3. --- Factor analyses on the STAR and STAR-S --- p.46 / Chapter 6.4.4. --- STAR-S reliability and validity --- p.48 / Chapter 6.4.5. --- Prevalence of self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.51 / Chapter 6.4.6. --- Predictors of self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.51 / Chapter 6.4.7. --- Impact of self-stigmatizing thinking habit on self-esteem when self-stigmatizing cognitive content was taken into consideration --- p.52 / Chapter 6.4.8. --- Impact of self-stigmatizing thinking habit on subjective quality of life when selfstigmatizing cognitive content was taken into consideration --- p.53 / Chapter 6.4.9. --- Impact of self-stigmatizing thinking habit on recovery when self-stigmatizing cognitive content was taken into consideration --- p.54 / Chapter 6.5. --- Discussion --- p.54 / Chapter 6.6. --- Implications for the Next Study --- p.58 / Chapter Chapter 7. --- Study 2 Automatic Self-Stigma-Relevant Associations in Self-Stigmatizing Thinking Habit: Evidence from the Brief Implicit Association Tests --- p.59 / Chapter 7.1. --- Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 7.2. --- Method --- p.61 / Chapter 7.2.1. --- Participants --- p.61 / Chapter 7.2.2. --- Procedure --- p.61 / Chapter 7.2.3. --- Measures --- p.61 / Chapter 7.2.3.1. --- Self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.61 / Chapter 7.2.3.2. --- Explicit self-stigma --- p.62 / Chapter 7.2.3.3. --- Implicit attitudes toward mental illness --- p.62 / Chapter 7.2.3.4. --- Implicit identity centrality --- p.64 / Chapter 7.2.3.5. --- Implicit self-esteem --- p.64 / Chapter 7.2.3.6. --- Explicit self-esteem --- p.65 / Chapter 7.2.3.7. --- Subjective quality of life --- p.65 / Chapter 7.2.4. --- Data Analyses --- p.66 / Chapter 7.3. --- Power Calculation --- p.68 / Chapter 7.4. --- Results --- p.69 / Chapter 7.4.1. --- Participant characteristics --- p.69 / Chapter 7.4.2. --- Confirmation of the interrelated two-factor structure --- p.71 / Chapter 7.4.3. --- Confirmation of the second-order hierarchical structure --- p.71 / Chapter 7.4.4. --- Characteristics of participants in the strong and weak habit groups --- p.72 / Chapter 7.4.5. --- BIAT performance by participants in the strong and weak habit groups --- p.73 / Chapter 7.4.6. --- Predictors of self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.74 / Chapter 7.4.7. --- The mediating role of self-stigmatizing thinking habit on explicit self-esteem --- p.75 / Chapter 7.4.8. --- The mediating role of self-stigmatizing thinking habit on subjective quality of life . --- p.76 / Chapter 7.5. --- Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter 7.6. --- Implications for the Next Study --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 8. --- Study 3 Attentional Bias for Self-Stigmatizing Stimuli in Self-Stigmatizing Thinking Habit: Evidence from the Emotional Stroop Task --- p.82 / Chapter 8.1. --- Introduction --- p.82 / Chapter 8.2. --- Method --- p.83 / Chapter 8.2.1. --- Participants --- p.83 / Chapter 8.2.2. --- Procedure --- p.83 / Chapter 8.2.3. --- Measures --- p.83 / Chapter 8.2.3.1. --- Self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.83 / Chapter 8.2.3.2. --- Self-stigmatizing cognitive content --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.3.3. --- Experiential avoidance --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.3.4. --- Self-esteem --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.3.5. --- Subjective quality of life --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.3.6. --- Depression --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.3.7. --- Emotional Stroop effects --- p.85 / Chapter 8.2.3.8. --- Cognitive Stroop effects --- p.87 / Chapter 8.2.4. --- Data analyses --- p.87 / Chapter 8.3. --- Power Calculation --- p.89 / Chapter 8.4. --- Results --- p.90 / Chapter 8.4.1. --- Participant characteristics --- p.90 / Chapter 8.4.2. --- Characteristics of participants in the strong and weak habit groups --- p.91 / Chapter 8.4.3. --- Emotional Stroop effects --- p.93 / Chapter 8.4.3.1. --- Response errors on the Emotional Stroop trials --- p.93 / Chapter 8.4.3.2. --- Response latencies on the Emotional Stroop trials --- p.93 / Chapter 8.4.4. --- Cognitive Stroop effects --- p.95 / Chapter 8.4.4.1. --- Response errors on the Cognitive Stroop trials --- p.95 / Chapter 8.4.4.2. --- Response latencies on the Cognitive Stroop trials --- p.95 / Chapter 8.4.5. --- Predictors of self-stigmatizing thinking habit --- p.96 / Chapter 8.4.6. --- The Mediating role of self-stigmatizing thinking habit on self-esteem and subjective quality of life --- p.97 / Chapter 8.5. --- Discussion --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 9. --- General Discussion --- p.102 / Chapter 9.1. --- Theoretical Implications --- p.102 / Chapter 9.2. --- Clinical Implications --- p.104 / Chapter 9.3. --- Limitations and Call for Future Research --- p.106 / Chapter Chapter 10. --- Concluding Remarks --- p.109 / Appendix 1 --- p.110 / Appendix 2 --- p.111 / Appendix 3 --- p.118 / References --- p.119

Esta tesis aborda la construcción social de la alteridad y los fundamentos que la hacen posible. Circunscribe su análisis a los procesos de producción social de la desviación por parte de las instituciones que conforman el llamado campo social, en este caso, un Centro Educativo de Justicia Juvenil de régimen abierto. La pregunta principal que incardina la investigación es: ¿cómo la institución reformatoria cincela la figura del “joven delincuente”? O dicho de otro modo: ¿cómo se aprende a ser un “joven delincuente” en un centro correccional? El trabajo se estructura en torno a tres ejes medulares. El primero elucida la pedagogía correccional y las representaciones inferiorizantes de la categoría “menor infractor”. ¿Qué racionalidades, pero también qué automatismos prerreflexivos sustentan este modelo de intervención educativa? Estas cuestiones plantean un doble adentramiento que explora, por un lado, la dimensión pedagógica de la cárcel y, por otro, la dimensión carcelaria de la pedagogía, o cuanto menos, de un tipo de pedagogía. La segunda nervadura analiza los efectos o somatizaciones que el internamiento tiene en los jóvenes, prestando especial atención tanto a los efectos de verdad en los sujetos estigmatizados como a los modos a través de los cuales los internos colaboran con su propia dominación. Se intersectan aquí la noción de violencia simbólica de Pierre Bourdieu, aquella mediante la cual el subordinado se convierte en consentidor y cómplice de su propia sumisión, con la carrera moral de Erving Goffman, el proceso de socialización que siguen ciertos individuos para confirmar las expectativas que existen acerca de ellos como portadores de alguna anomalía que termina siendo asumida como propia y natural. El tercer y último eje, cartografía las estratagemas que los jóvenes despliegan para hacer frente a la sujeción institucional: un entramado de artimañas, desacatos, burlas y simulacros de adaptación con la que estos contrarrestan la sumisión y fijan unos ciertos límites al sometimiento. Diferentes formas de resistencia y contrapoder que, si bien no siempre tienen un carácter consciente, crítico y deliberadamente opositor, enfrentan el descrédito y la dominación, al tiempo que parecen reservar algo de uno mismo fuera del alcance de la institución. En última instancia, la investigación se vertebra a partir de un interés particular por el flujo y la decantación de la vida social, esto es, por los modos en los que ésta se reproduce de forma ininterrumpida. Auscultando el impulso interno que hace y rehace esa vida, esta tesis se adentra en el conatus sese conservandi spinoziano del mundo social; ese denuedo para seguir existiendo y perseverar, que nos muestra hasta qué punto la sociedad humana se compone, como señalara Herbert Blumer, de personas comprometidas en el acto de vivir, incluso, a pesar de la existencia de órdenes sociales desiguales y enfrentados. ¿Por qué el mundo dura? ¿Cómo se mantiene y reproduce un orden societario particular? ¿Qué mantiene unida a la microsociedad de la institución estudiada pese a su estructura de asimetrías? / This thesis focuses on the social construction of otherness and the fundamentals that make it possible. Its analysis is limited to the social production processes of deviation in the reformatory institutions of Juvenile Justice. The main question that introduces the research is: how the reformatory carves the figure of "youthful offender"? Or put in other words: how do they learn to be "youthful offenders" during their internment? The thesis is structured around three core axes. The first elucidates correctional pedagogy and its discredited representations of "juvenile offender" category. What rationalities, but also what automatisms support this educational intervention model? These questions raise a double examination: on the one hand, the educational aspect of prison and on the other, the prison dimension of pedagogy, or at least, a kind of pedagogy. The second axis analyzes the effects or somatizations of the internment in young, with special attention to the consequences of stigma and to the ways inmates collaborate with their own domination. We here intersect the Pierre Boudieu’s notion of symbolic violence and Erving Goffman’s moral career. The third axis maps the stratagems deployed by youth to resist institutional submission: a web of trickery, contempt, taunts and mock adaptation with which to counteract domination. Ultimately, the research is structured from a particular interest in the ways in which social life is played out without interruption. Auscultating the internal impulse that makes and remakes that life in the reformatory, this thesis explores the Spinozian sese conatus conservandi of the social sphere: the boldness to continue existing and persevering that shows how human society consists of people engaged in the act of living, despite the existence of antagonistic and unequal social orders (inmates vs. educators). How it maintains a particular societal order? What holds together a microsociety (in this case, the reformatory of our research) despite its structure of asymmetry?

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research paper is based on the perception of people over the death by HIV and Aids. It looks at the impact of culture and beliefs on the management of HIV and Aids in the community and also in the country as whole. This research aims to establish the root course of covering death of by HIV and Aids, often due to fear of discrimination and isolation. Communities need to be educated on discrimination and stigma that comes about with people living with HIV and Aids. This study was conducted at Mvelaphanda Primary School children, in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa. The main focus was on the death of parents of the learners at the school and ultimately learners themselves, who some of them where born with HIV epidemic. Some of the children became orphans of the disease. The collection of data was in three fold: questionnaire, interview and observation and discussions. The information gathered was manipulated to bring about the expected results. Analysis of the data indicated that where there is no behavioral and attitude change, there would be more death by the pandemic than ever before. It is the responsibility of everyone, be it heads of families, religious leaders, politicians, business people and teachers to fight against the spread of HIV and Aids pandemic. This study has also discovered that medical report on the cause of death is concealed in order for policies to payout. This distortion of information does not help in the fight against the spread of HIV and Aids All stakeholders should work together in the support of those will disclose their status without fear of rejection, isolation and discriminated against. Schools, churches and community gatherings should be better used as a plat-form for that. If such conditions are created the spread of the HIV will be reduced and the prevention strategy will succeed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing handel oor die persepsie van mense teenoor dood as gevolg van MIV/Vigs. Dit ondersoek die impak van kultuur en geloof op die bestuur van MIV/Vigs binne 'n gemeenskap in die besonder en binne die land in die algemeen. Die doel van die navorsing was om die grondoorsaak waarom daar dikwels gediskrimeer word teenoor persone wat sterf weens MIV te identifiseer en om te bepaal waarom mense wat met MIV leef dikwels “uitgewerp” word uit die gemeenskap. Die studie is gedoen by die Mvelaphanda Primêre Skool in Tembisa, in die Ekuhuleni Metropool van die Gauteng provinsie van Suid-Afrika. Die primêre fokus van die studie was op die invloed wat die dood as gevolg van Vigs op die kinders in die skool gehad het. Data is ingesamel deur middel van vraelyste en onderhoude asook deur waarneming en besprekings. Ontleding van die data het aangetoon dat indien daar nie positiewe gedragverandering plaasvind nie, daar meer sterftes as gevolg van Vigs verwag kan word. Daar word aanbevelings gemaak oor hoe belangroepe kan meehelp om stigma en diskriminasie te verminder en sodoende kan meehelp om die verdere verspreiding van die pandemie te beperk.