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Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 58990

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chung-Ying Lin

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Guest Editor

Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Interests: patient-reported outcomes; childhood adversity and mental health in children/adolescents; therapeutic effects on people with mental illness; psychometric testing
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Prof. Dr. Hector Tsang

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Guest Editor

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Interests: neuropsychiatric and vocational rehabilitation for individuals with mental illness; mental illness stigma; psychophysiology of mind–body interventions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your great support in our last Special Issue of “Stigma, Health, and Well-Being”(https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/special_issues/stigma). We have finally published a total of 24 original papers covering diverse populations, including different ethnic people (Caucasian, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Korean, Hong Kong people, and Saudi Arabian populations), disability types (physical disability and mental health problems), conditions (transgender, weight problems, and caregiving), and human developmental stages (adolescence and young adults). After editing the first Special Issue of “Stigma, Health and Wellbeing”, we are glad to learn that the world is taking the issue of stigmatization seriously and is finding a way to tackle this complex challenge. However, we believe that our first Special Issue of “Stigma, Health and Wellbeing” is just the beginning, and more evidence and empirical studies on the issue of stigmatization and how stigmatization impacts human livings are needed.

As mentioned in our first Special Issue of “Stigma, Health and Wellbeing”, stigmas can be conceptualized as the co-occurrence of the following: (i) Distinguishing differences and labeling; (ii) negatively stereotyping those who are labeled as different; (iii) separating labeled people from unlabeled people (e.g., using “us” vs. “them”); (iv) emotional reactions, such as anger and hatred, among both those who do the labeling and those who are labeled; (v) the labeled group experiencing status loss and discrimination; (vi) the economic, social, political, and power domains that enable these processes to unfold. We consider that the current era, struck by the COVID-19 pandemic, may deepen the impact of stigmas (e.g., suspicious COVID-19 cases and stigmatization of healthcare providers). Those originally stigmatized prior to the pandemic may receive less healthcare resources because of the interaction between stigmatization and COVID-19. That is, the government may reallocate the healthcare resources to COVID-19 prevention and thus reduce the resources available to those who have been stigmatized. Therefore, understating the issue of stigmatization during the COVID-19 era is important. Although we are interested in the stigma, health, and well-being issues under COVID-19, we also welcome other relevant submissions on the issue of stigmatization that are not directly related to COVID-19.

In this Special Issue, we intend to address this knowledge gap and invite the submission of papers that explore and shed light on the relationship between stigmatization and any aspect of health. Reviews, observational studies, case vignettes, and randomized experimental trials are welcome. If you have an idea and do not know whether it falls into the scope of this Special Issue, you may contact either one of the Guest Editors (Dr. Chung-Ying Lin or Prof. Dr. Hector Tsang).

Dr. Chung-Ying Lin
Prof. Dr. Hector Tsang
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

Discrimination
Help-seeking behavior
Physical health
Prejudice
Psychosocial health
Quality of life
Stigma
Wellbeing
COVID-19

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Related Special Issues

Stigma, Health and Wellbeing in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (25 articles)
3rd Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (5 articles)

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Body Checking and Body Image Avoidance as Partial Mediators of the Relationship between Internalized Weight Bias and Body Dissatisfaction

by Brooke L. Bennett, Allison F. Wagner and Janet D. Latner

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9785; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169785 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2525

Abstract

Internalized weight bias is associated with body image disturbances and the development of disordered eating. The association between weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction has proven difficult to disrupt. In order to develop more effective interventions, we must identify the behavioral targets which account for this robust association. The present study sought to examine whether body checking and body image avoidance mediate the relationship between weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction. In total, 279 female undergraduates (M_age = 20.13, SD = 4.10) were administered a battery of survey measures. Results demonstrated that body checking partially mediates the relationship between weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction, Z = 7.42, p < 0.001. Body image avoidance was also found to partially mediate the relationship between weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction, Z = 70.03, p < 0.001. These findings suggest that body checking and body image avoidance may both partially account for the association between weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction. These findings extend the existing literature on weight bias internalization by highlighting two behavioral targets for prevention and intervention efforts. Understanding these relationships has important implications for both reducing weight bias internalization and improving body dissatisfaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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19 pages, 578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Media Coverage of Pedophilia and Its Impact on Help-Seeking Persons with Pedophilia in Germany—A Focus Group Study

by Daniela Stelzmann, Sara Jahnke and Laura F. Kuhle

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9356; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159356 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6437

Abstract

The public stigma associated with pedophilia, the sexual attraction to prepubescent children, is tremendous. Previous research indicates that undifferentiated media coverage plays an essential role in perpetuating the public stigma by falsely equating pedophilia and child sexual abuse (CSA) and thus may stop persons suffering from a pedophilic disorder from seeking professional help. Until now, a comprehensive examination of positive as well as negative media effects on affected individuals is missing. Therefore, the present study explores if and how media coverage impacts the lives of help-seeking persons with pedophilia by conducting four qualitative focus group discussions with a clinical sample (N = 20) from the German Prevention Network “Kein Täter werden”. Present results demonstrate that media coverage of pedophilia was perceived as mostly undifferentiated, even though participants observed an increase in fact-based reporting over the years. Moreover, it seems that media coverage has strong emotional and behavioral consequences for patients (e.g., negative reporting reduced self-esteem). In sum, our results highlight that differentiated media coverage could play a key role in supporting help-seeking persons with pedophilic disorder, while the impact of undifferentiated media coverage appears to be mostly negative. Therefore, our results point to the need to reframe pedophilia using differentiated media coverage to help affected persons receive treatment efficiently and thereby prevent CSA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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19 pages, 1828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Xenophobic Bullying and COVID-19: An Exploration Using Big Data and Qualitative Analysis

by Karla Dhungana Sainju, Huda Zaidi, Niti Mishra and Akosua Kuffour

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4824; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084824 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4682

Abstract

Extant literature suggests that xenophobic bullying is intensified by isolated national or global events; however, the analysis of such occurrences is methodologically limited to the use of self-reported data. Examining disclosures of racist bullying episodes enables us to contextualize various perspectives that are shared online and generate insights on how COVID-19 has exacerbated the issue. Moreover, understanding the rationale and characteristics present in xenophobic bullying may have important implications for our social wellbeing, mental health, and inclusiveness as a global community both in the short and long term. This study employs a mixed-method approach using Big Data techniques as well as qualitative analysis of xenophobic bullying disclosures on Twitter following the spread of COVID-19. The data suggests that about half of the sample represented xenophobic bullying. The qualitative analysis also found that 64% of xenophobic bullying-related tweets referred to occasions that perpetuated racist stereotypes. Relatedly, the rationale for almost 75% of xenophobic bullying incidents was due to being Chinese or Asian. The findings of this study, coupled with anti-hate reports from around the world, are used to suggest multipronged policy interventions and considerations of how social media sites such as Twitter can be used to curb the spread of misinformation and xenophobic bullying. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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11 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barriers and Facilitators to Mental Health Help-Seeking among Young Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

by Robena Noorwali, Sarah Almotairy, Raneem Akhder, Ghadi Mahmoud, Loujain Sharif, Nofaa Alasmee, Alaa Mahsoon and Duaa Hafez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052848 - 1 Mar 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7294

Abstract

While young Saudi adults are reportedly prone to experiencing a variety of mental health problems, they tend to delay seeking mental health support. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of seeking mental health support among young adults in Saudi Arabia. A qualitative research design was implemented using semi-structured interviews with 12 young adult participants in Saudi Arabia, recruited through social media platforms, and the interviews were then analyzed using thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged: barriers that impede the process of mental health help-seeking and facilitators that assist individuals in seeking mental health support. The barriers included public stigma and lack of awareness, unprofessional mental health practitioners, lack of accessibility to services and information, unsupportive families, intrapersonal dilemmas, and misconceptions based on religious beliefs. Facilitators of help-seeking included increasing societal and family awareness, promoting the accessibility of services, enhancing sources of external support, personal motivation to change, and online therapy. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of promoting mental health literacy among the Saudi public, particularly with regard to young adults and their unique mental health needs. Exploring facilitators and barriers may also assist mental health providers in developing tailored mental health campaigns and interventions directed at young adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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11 pages, 681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Weight-Related Self-Stigma and Smartphone Addiction on Female University Students’ Physical Activity Levels

by Mohsen Saffari, Jung-Sheng Chen, Hung-Ching Wu, Xavier C. C. Fung, Chih-Cheng Chang, Yen-Ling Chang, Ruckwongpatr Kamolthip, Marc N. Potenza, I-Ching Lin and Chung-Ying Lin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2631; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052631 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4262

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a common health problem in female college students, and factors such as weight self-stigma and smartphone addiction may negatively impact physical activity in this population. The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between these variables and identify the moderating effects of smartphone addiction between weight stigma and physical activity. Using a cross-sectional study, information on the level of physical activity in the past week, weight-related self-stigma, and smartphone addiction, as well as demographics, were collected via an online survey from 391 female college students in Taiwan. Participants in two groups of moderate to high and low physical activity were compared using a zero-order bivariate correlation in terms of independent variables. A moderated mediation model using Model 14 in the Hayes’ PROCESS macro with 1000 bootstrapping resamples was applied to assess moderation effects. There were significant differences in terms of weight status, smartphone addiction, and weight stigma between active and inactive groups (p < 0.001). All independent variables except for age were positively correlated (0.14 < r < 0.45). Multivariate regression models indicated that weight status was associated with weight stigma (odds ratio [OR] = 9.13, p < 0.001; 95% CI = 6.90, 11.35). Weight status (OR = 0.47, p = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.23, 0.93), weight stigma (OR = 0.96, p = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.922, 0.997), and smartphone addiction (OR = 0.11, p = 0.003; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.47) were associated with physical activity. The moderating role of smartphone addiction on the association between weight stigma and physical activity was also identified (OR = 1.05, p = 0.049; 95% CI = 1.0001, 1.1004). The moderating effect of smartphone addiction on the association between weight stigma and physical activity suggests that designing interventions to address the negative impacts of both weight stigma and smartphone addiction may help to improve physical activity in female college students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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15 pages, 1593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

HIV Knowledge and Stigmatizing Attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS among Medical Students in Jordan

by Malik Sallam, Ali M. Alabbadi, Sarah Abdel-Razeq, Kareem Battah, Leen Malkawi, Mousa A. Al-Abbadi and Azmi Mahafzah

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020745 - 10 Jan 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6789

Abstract

The stigmatizing attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) can be a major barrier to effective patient care. As future physicians, medical students represent a core group that should be targeted with focused knowledge and adequate training to provide patient care without prejudice. The aim of the current study was to examine HIV/AIDS knowledge, and the stigmatizing attitude towards PLWHA, among medical students in Jordan. The current study was based on a self-administered online questionnaire, which was distributed during March–May 2021, involving students at the six medical schools in Jordan, with items assessing demographics, HIV/AIDS knowledge, and HIV/AIDS stigmatizing attitude, which was evaluated using the validated HIV-stigma scale. The total number of respondents was 1362, with predominance of females (n = 780, 57.3%). Lack of HIV/AIDS knowledge among the study participants was notable for the following items: HIV transmission through breastfeeding (40.8% correct responses), HIV is not transmitted through saliva (42.6% correct responses), and vertical transmission of HIV can be prevented (48.8% correct responses). Approximately two-thirds of the respondents displayed a positive attitude towards PLWHA. For six out of the 14 HIV/AIDS knowledge items, lack of knowledge was significantly correlated with a more negative attitude towards PLWHA. Multinomial regression analysis showed that a significantly more negative attitude towards PLWHA was found among the pre-clinical students compared to the clinical students (odds ratio (OR): 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43–0.97, p = 0.036); and that affiliation to medical schools that were founded before 2000 was associated with a more positive attitude towards PLWHA compared to affiliation to recently founded medical schools in the country (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.42–2.42, p < 0.001). About one-third of medical students who participated in the study displayed a negative attitude towards PLWHA. Defects in HIV/AIDS knowledge were detected for aspects involving HIV transmission and prevention, and such defects were correlated with a more negative attitude towards PLWHA. It is recommended to revise the current medical training curricula, and to tailor improvements in the overall HIV/AIDS knowledge, which can be reflected in a more positive attitude towards PLWHA, particularly for the recently established medical schools in the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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11 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men (MISS-LG) in Taiwan: Psychometric Evidence from Rasch and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

by Cheng-Fang Yen, Yu-Te Huang, Marc N. Potenza, Tzu-Tung Tsai, Chung-Ying Lin and Hector W. H. Tsang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413352 - 18 Dec 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3557

Abstract

Internalized sexual stigma may hamper the development of self-identity, social interaction, and intimate relationship in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. The Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men (MISS-LG) is an important instrument assessing internalized sexual stigma for LGB individuals. However, its psychometric properties have not been examined in LGB populations outside the Italian community. The present study used advanced psychometric testing to evaluate the traditional Chinese version (the MISS-LG) among LGB individuals in Taiwan. LGB individuals (500 male, 500 female) participated in this study and completed the MISS-LG, HIV and Homosexuality Related Stigma (HHRS), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ). Confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the three-factor structure of the MISS-LG; however, two items for males and one item for females had somewhat low factor loadings on the sexuality factor. Each MISS-LG factor was found to be unidimensional in Rasch results, except for the slight misfit in Item 3 and concurrent validity of the MISS-LG was supported by the positive correlations with HHRS and the AAQ. The Chinese MISS-LG has relatively satisfactory psychometric properties. However, further research is needed to investigate the reasons for problematic fitting of several items. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

14 pages, 337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Disclosure and Non-Communication: Stigma Management in Third-Sector Transitional Employment

by Miira Niska, Melisa Stevanovic, Elina Weiste, Tommi Ostrovskij, Taina Valkeapää and Camilla Lindholm

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211840 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2525

Abstract

People who are recovering from a mental illness often have difficulties finding and maintaining employment. One of the main reasons for these difficulties is the negative label, or stigma, attached to mental illnesses. People who possess stigmatizing characteristics may use compensatory stigma management strategies to reduce discrimination. Due to mental illnesses’ invisible characteristics, information control is an important stigma management strategy. People can often choose whether they disclose or non-communicate their illness. Nevertheless, it might be difficult to decide when and to whom to disclose or non-communicate the stigma. Since stigma management is a dilemmatic process, workers in mental health services play an important role in informing their clients of when it is best to disclose or non-communicate their illness. In this article, we adopt the perspective of discursive social psychology to investigate how workers of one mental health service programme evaluate and construct self-disclosure and non-communication as stigma management strategies. We demonstrate how these workers recommend non-communication and formulate strict stipulations for self-disclosure. At the same time, they differentiate non-communication from lying or providing false information. The study contributes to an improved understanding of stigma management in contemporary mental health services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

15 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behavioral Correlates of COVID-19 Worry: Stigma, Knowledge, and News Source

by Gabriella Y. Meltzer, Virginia W. Chang, Sarah A. Lieff, Margaux M. Grivel, Lawrence H. Yang and Don C. Des Jarlais

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11436; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111436 - 30 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2555

Abstract

Non-adherence to COVID-19 guidelines may be attributable to low levels of worry. This study assessed whether endorsing COVID-19-stigmatizing restrictions, COVID-19 knowledge, and preferred news source were associated with being ‘very worried’ versus ‘not at all’ or ‘somewhat’ worried about contracting COVID-19. Survey data were collected in July–August 2020 from N = 547 New York State (NYS) and N = 504 national Amazon MTurk workers. Respondents who endorsed COVID-19 stigmatizing restrictions (NYS OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.31, 2.92; national OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.06, 3.08) and consumed commercial news (NYS OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.21, 2.96; national OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.24, 3.00) were more likely to be very worried. National respondents who consumed The New York Times (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.00, 2.29) were more likely to be very worried, while those with little knowledge (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.13, 0.43) were less likely to be very worried. NYS (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.77, 4.00) and national (OR 3.17; 95% CI 1.95, 5.16) respondents with probable depression were also more likely to be very worried. These characteristics can help identify those requiring intervention to maximize perceived threat to COVID-19 and encourage uptake of protective behaviors while protecting psychological wellbeing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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10 pages, 335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Relationship between Gender Contentedness and Sex-Related Experiences among Taiwanese Youth

by Chia-Yi Liu, Jen-Hao Kuo, Ting-Hsuan Lee, Carol Strong, Meng-Che Tsai and Chih-Ting Lee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10635; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010635 - 11 Oct 2021

Viewed by 2228

Abstract

Little is known about how gender contentedness is related to sex-related experiences among Taiwanese adolescents. Secondary analysis of data (n = 2624, Mage = 13.3 ± 0.47 years and 51% males) on a longitudinal youth cohort was used to track the evolving development of sex-related experiences such as exposure to sexually explicit media, romantic experiences, and sexual behaviors. Hierarchical multinomial logistic regression analyses were applied to study the effects of gender contentedness on sex-related outcome variables. The results showed that nearly 10% of the subjects were not contented with their gender. As compared to peers, gender-discontented adolescents had a higher likelihood of exposures to sexually explicit media (odds ratio [OR]. = 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]. = 1.18–2.46) and risky sex behaviors (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.03–4.81). These results shed light on the impact of self-perceived gender contentedness on sex-related experiences in Taiwanese adolescents. Our findings are helpful for the development of practical guidance on sexual health issues, particularly for those who are discontented with their gender. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

14 pages, 663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Better If They Laugh with Me than at Me”: The Role of Humor in Coping with Obesity-Related Stigma in Women

by Natalia Mazurkiewicz, Mariusz Lipowski, Jarosław Krefta and Małgorzata Lipowska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 7974; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157974 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3957

Abstract

This study investigated the role of perceived stigmatization in the relationship between humor styles and coping with stress among young women suffering from stigma due to obesity. In the 21st century, obesity is an increasing global health issue with many physical and mental consequences for obese women. As a chronic stigmatizing disease, it requires that the affected individuals cope with social consequences; women with obesity are more prone to such consequences than men. Humor fosters the breaking of stereotypes and alleviating the consequences of stigmatization. A total of 127 young adult women (age M = 25.74, SD = 2.73) participated in the study (n = 54 with overfat and n = 73 with healthy fat). Participants filled out the Humor Styles Questionnaire, Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire, and the Brief COPE Scale. Anthropometric data were gathered using a body composition analyzer. Results indicate that, when perceiving hostile behaviors toward themselves and using humor as a coping strategy, women with overfat select maladaptive styles of humor (i.e., self-defeating and aggressive styles). Women with overfat were also more likely to use humor as a coping strategy in difficult situations. Furthermore, none of the participants were satisfied with their body mass. At the same time, among women without obesity, a lack of compliments was not treated as a problem, even if they had high body fat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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12 pages, 737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Lived Experiences of Stigmatization in the Process of HIV Status Disclosure among People Living with HIV in Taiwan

by Chia-Hui Yu, Chu-Yu Huang, Nai-Ying Ko, Heng-Hsin Tung, Hui-Man Huang and Su-Fen Cheng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5089; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105089 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3970

Abstract

People living with HIV (PLWH) face social stigma which makes disclosure of HIV status difficult. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of stigmatization in the process of disease disclosure among PLWH in Taiwan. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews from 19 PLWH in Taiwan revealed two phases and six themes. Phase one “experiences before disclosure” involved three themes: “Struggles under the pressure of concealing the HIV Status”, “Torn between fear of unemployment/isolation and desire to protect closed ones”, and “Being forced to disclose the HIV status.” Phase two “experiences after disclosure” included three themes: “Receiving special considerations and requirements from school or work”, “Receiving differential treatments in life and when seeking medical care”, and “Stress relief and restart.” Healthcare professionals need to assess stigmatization in PLWH and develop individualized approaches to assist with the disease disclosure process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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Review

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28 pages, 1591 KiB

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A Feeling of Otherness: A Qualitative Research Synthesis Exploring the Lived Experiences of Stigma in Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

by Kate Muse, Emma Johnson and Annabel L. David

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8038; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158038 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5159

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, chronic conditions involving inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. Individuals with IBD may be susceptible to experiencing health-related stigma: experienced, perceived, or internalised social exclusion, rejection, blame, or devaluation resulting from negative social judgements based on the disease. This qualitative research synthesis draws together findings from 38 studies describing lived experiences to develop a unified interpretative account of the experience of stigma in IBD. Analysis developed two categories: ‘The IBD journey’ explores the dynamic ways in which having IBD impacted on individuals’ self-identity and ‘a need to be understood’ examines the tension between wanting to be understood whilst feeling their true experiences needed to be hidden from or were misjudged by the social sphere. The overarching concept ‘feeling of otherness’ highlights that, rather than a static, binary experience, individuals moved across a continuum ranging from the excluding experience of feeling stigmatised and othered, to the inclusive experience of integration. Individuals fluctuated along this continuum across different physical, social, and health contexts. Psychological adjustment to IBD, drawing on experience of adaptive coping, and reconnecting with valued others through illness disclosure strengthened stigma resistance during more challenging times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Stigma, Health and Wellbeing)

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