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Ranjit YS, Das M, Meisenbach R. COVID-19 Courtesy Stigma among Healthcare Providers in India: A Study of Stigma Management Communication and its Impact. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:2833-2842. [PMID: 36109847 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2122279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In early 2020, the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit India, generating one of the highest rates of infection and death in the world. Meanwhile, healthcare workers experienced stigma and discrimination due to their association with COVID-19 patients. This study analyzed healthcare workers' experience of courtesy stigma in India, the communication strategies they used to manage stigma, and the impact on their mental health. A cross-sectional survey of 150 healthcare workers in India showed that almost 50% experienced discrimination due to their association with COVID-19 patients. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling, this study found that experience of discrimination was associated with perceived courtesy stigma. Two stigma management strategies (reducing offensiveness and passive acceptance) mediated the relationship between perceived courtesy stigma and perceived stress and depression. Participants also reported engaging in stigma management strategies of bonding with other healthcare professionals and passive acceptance of the stigma more than reducing stigma and displaying/disclosing stigma. We conclude that perhaps due to depletion of cognitive and emotional resources, healthcare workers engaged more in social support (bonding) and passive stigma acceptance strategies to alleviate the stress associated with providing COVID-19 patient care. Practical and theoretical implications are further discussed.
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Kuang K, Zhao X, Basnyat I, He T. From Offline to Online: Understanding Chinese Single Mothers' Uncertainty Management in Interpersonal and Online Contexts. Front Psychol 2022; 13:845760. [PMID: 35602739 PMCID: PMC9120956 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.845760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Divorced and unwed single motherhood is heavily stigmatized in Chinese cultural context, preventing Chinese single mothers from actively seeking the information and support needed and negatively impacting their wellbeing. Drawing on the theory of motivated information management (TMIM), this study tested how perceived stigma and cultural norms influenced Chinese single mothers’ search for information and social support from families, friends as well as from online communities. Using two-wave data collected from 226 single mothers, findings support the utility of the TMIM in explaining information management and support seeking behaviors and contribute to situating the TMIM process within larger socio-cultural contexts. Practical implications regarding how to facilitate more effective uncertainty management and enhance Chinese single mothers’ wellbeing in interpersonal vs. online contexts are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kuang
- School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoman Zhao
- School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Iccha Basnyat
- Global Affairs Program, Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Tianping He
- School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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Why people join pro-Ana online communities? A psychological textual analysis of eating disorder blog posts. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Kruzan KP, Bazarova NN, Whitlock J. Investigating Self-injury Support Solicitations and Responses on a Mobile Peer Support Application. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACM ON HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION 2021; 5:354. [PMID: 36238758 PMCID: PMC9554950 DOI: 10.1145/3479498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Online informal support networks may provide a critical source of support for young people who self-injure. While these platforms are often intended to mitigate digital harm, there is limited understanding of how individuals use peer support venues to seek self-injury related support and the specific contingencies of supportive exchanges. The present mixed-methods study was designed to explore the types of concerns members express on a mobile peer support application and the types of responses that they receive. Specifically, our aims were to (1) understand the prevalence of peer support types exchanged and (2) surface more nuanced themes within these categories of support. We also explore the relationship between support sought through posts and received through comments. Findings have important theoretical implications for understanding support seeking and provision through a mobile peer support app, which can help guide the design and optimization of peer-driven platforms for individuals who self-injure.
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Zhao X, Basnyat I. Lived Experiences of Unwed Single Mothers: Exploring the Relationship between Structural Violence and Agency in the Context of Chinese Reproductive Health Discourse. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 36:293-302. [PMID: 31650862 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2019.1683953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
China's family planning policy prioritizes the state and has historically silenced the voices of women in their own reproductive discourse. Unwed single Chinese mothers are in particular penalized and remain invisible in the national reproductive health discourse that promotes childbirth only within the institution of marriage. Drawing on Giddens' theoretical framework of structure-agency, thirty in-depth interviews were conducted to understand the lived experiences of Chinese unwed single mothers. Specifically, this study explored the ways in which structural violence is communicatively enacted in the interactions within institutions such as police station, family planning office and health care system; and interpersonal relationships such as family and neighbors that silence the voices of the unwed single mothers. Further the study also explored the ways in which the women enact their agency to navigate these macro and micro level constrains and limitations. The findings revealed that the women's experience of structural violence is often a manifestation of the state-controlled sexuality discourse in the social institutions and interpersonal relationships, and highlighted the women's agency enactment through employing various communicative behaviors to manage these day-to-day struggles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoman Zhao
- Research Center of Journalism and Social Development, School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University of China
| | - Iccha Basnyat
- School of Communication Studies, James Madison University
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Mento C, Silvestri MC, Muscatello MRA, Rizzo A, Celebre L, Praticò M, Zoccali RA, Bruno A. Psychological Impact of Pro-Anorexia and Pro-Eating Disorder Websites on Adolescent Females: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2186. [PMID: 33672305 PMCID: PMC7926357 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18042186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Teenagers (in particular, females) suffering from eating disorders report being not satisfied with their physical aspect and they often perceive their body image in a wrong way; they report an excessive use of websites, defined as PRO-ANA and PRO-MIA, that promote an ideal of thinness, providing advice and suggestions about how to obtain super slim bodies. (2) Aim: The aim of this review is to explore the psychological impact of pro-ana and pro-mia websites on female teenagers. (3) Methods: We have carried out a systematic review of the literature on PubMed. The search terms that have been used are: "Pro" AND "Ana" OR "Blogging" AND "Mia". Initially, 161 publications were identified, but in total, in compliance with inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 studies have been analyzed. (4) Results: The recent scientific literature has identified a growing number of Pro Ana and Pro Mia blogs which play an important role in the etiology of anorexia and bulimia, above all in female teenagers. The feelings of discomfort and dissatisfaction with their physical aspect, therefore, reduce their self-esteem. (5) Conclusion: These websites encourage anorexic and bulimic behaviors, in particular in female teenagers. Attention to healthy eating guidelines and policies during adolescence, focused on correcting eating behavioral aspects, is very important to prevent severe forms of psychopathology with more vulnerability in the perception of body image, social desirability, and negative emotional feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Mento
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.R.A.M.); (L.C.); (M.P.); (R.A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Maria Catena Silvestri
- Psychiatric Unit, Policlinico Hospital “G. Martino”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.R.A.M.); (L.C.); (M.P.); (R.A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Amelia Rizzo
- Psychiatric Unit, Policlinico Hospital “G. Martino”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Laura Celebre
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.R.A.M.); (L.C.); (M.P.); (R.A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Martina Praticò
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.R.A.M.); (L.C.); (M.P.); (R.A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Rocco Antonio Zoccali
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.R.A.M.); (L.C.); (M.P.); (R.A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Antonio Bruno
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.R.A.M.); (L.C.); (M.P.); (R.A.Z.); (A.B.)
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Chang A, Schulz PJ, Tu S, Liu MT. Communicative Blame in Online Communication of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Computational Approach of Stigmatizing Cues and Negative Sentiment Gauged With Automated Analytic Techniques. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e21504. [PMID: 33108306 PMCID: PMC7690967 DOI: 10.2196/21504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information about a new coronavirus emerged in 2019 and rapidly spread around the world, gaining significant public attention and attracting negative bias. The use of stigmatizing language for the purpose of blaming sparked a debate. OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify social stigma and negative sentiment toward the blameworthy agents in social communities. METHODS We enabled a tailored text-mining platform to identify data in their natural settings by retrieving and filtering online sources, and constructed vocabularies and learning word representations from natural language processing for deductive analysis along with the research theme. The data sources comprised of ten news websites, eleven discussion forums, one social network, and two principal media sharing networks in Taiwan. A synthesis of news and social networking analytics was present from December 30, 2019, to March 31, 2020. RESULTS We collated over 1.07 million Chinese texts. Almost two-thirds of the texts on COVID-19 came from news services (n=683,887, 63.68%), followed by Facebook (n=297,823, 27.73%), discussion forums (n=62,119, 5.78%), and Instagram and YouTube (n=30,154, 2.81%). Our data showed that online news served as a hotbed for negativity and for driving emotional social posts. Online information regarding COVID-19 associated it with China-and a specific city within China through references to the "Wuhan pneumonia"-potentially encouraging xenophobia. The adoption of this problematic moniker had a high frequency, despite the World Health Organization guideline to avoid biased perceptions and ethnic discrimination. Social stigma is disclosed through negatively valenced responses, which are associated with the most blamed targets. CONCLUSIONS Our sample is sufficiently representative of a community because it contains a broad range of mainstream online media. Stigmatizing language linked to the COVID-19 pandemic shows a lack of civic responsibility that encourages bias, hostility, and discrimination. Frequently used stigmatizing terms were deemed offensive, and they might have contributed to recent backlashes against China by directing blame and encouraging xenophobia. The implications ranging from health risk communication to stigma mitigation and xenophobia concerns amid the COVID-19 outbreak are emphasized. Understanding the nomenclature and biased terms employed in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak is paramount. We propose solidarity with communication professionals in combating the COVID-19 outbreak and the infodemic. Finding solutions to curb the spread of virus bias, stigma, and discrimination is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Chang
- Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
- Institute of Communication and Health, Lugano University, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - ShengTsung Tu
- Department of Radio and Television, Ming Chuan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Matthew Tingchi Liu
- Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Macao, China
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O'Connor C, McNamara N, O'Hara L, McNicholas M, McNicholas F. How do people with eating disorders experience the stigma associated with their condition? A mixed-methods systematic review. J Ment Health 2019; 30:454-469. [PMID: 31711324 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2019.1685081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public opinion research shows that eating disorders (EDs) are a major target of stigmatisation. To understand the implications of this stigma, research investigating how stigma is experienced by individuals with EDs is critical. AIM This paper aims to collate, evaluate and synthesise the extant empirical research illuminating how people with EDs experience the stigma associated with their condition. METHOD A systematic mixed-methods literature search was performed. Articles that met a specified set of inclusion criteria underwent a quality assessment and thematic synthesis. RESULTS Twenty-nine articles were included in the review. Studies were mostly qualitative and of reasonable methodological quality. The literature was characterised by five research themes, illuminating (i) the nature and prevalence of stigma experienced, (ii) stigma in families, (iii) stigma in healthcare contexts, (iv) self-stigmatisation and illness concealment, and (v) stigma resistance. CONCLUSIONS The reviewed research showed that people with EDs have extensive experience of stigma in diverse settings. They report that stigma has negative implications for their psychological wellbeing and likelihood of help-seeking. However, research also shows that people with EDs actively seek to resist and challenge stigma. The review identifies the outstanding gaps and weaknesses in this literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliodhna O'Connor
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh McNamara
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lesley O'Hara
- School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,St. John of God Hospitaller Services, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Fiona McNicholas
- School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,St. John of God Hospitaller Services, Dublin, Ireland.,Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Ireland
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Crowley JL, High AC, Thomas LJ. Desired, Expected, and Received Support: How Support Gaps Impact Affect Improvement and Perceived Stigma in the Context of Unintended Pregnancy. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2019; 34:1441-1453. [PMID: 29985638 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1495162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Unintended pregnancies constitute potentially stigmatizing moments that mobilize desires for several types of support from multiple members of people's networks. This study examines gaps among the support people desire, expect, and receive when coping with an unintended pregnancy. The support gaps people experience can influence their feelings about the pregnancy and their perceptions of stigma surrounding it. People (N = 203) who recently experienced an unintended pregnancy reported in an online survey the supportive communication they experienced from their romantic partner, mother/maternal figure, and close friend at the time of the unintended pregnancy. People experienced gaps among the amounts of support they desired, expected, and received, and the nature of gaps varied by the provider and type of support under consideration. Males and females perceived different gaps that varied according to their roles associated with an unintended pregnancy. The gaps people experienced contributed to their perceptions of stigma and affect improvement surrounding the pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Crowley
- School of Communication Studies/Knoxville, University of Tennessee
| | - Andrew C High
- Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
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10
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Zhu Z, Hu Y, Xing W, Guo M, Wu B. Perceived discrimination and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults living with HIV in China. AIDS Care 2019; 31:1061-1068. [PMID: 30943753 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1601674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Middle-aged and older adults with HIV experience double discrimination and cognitive impairment due to both their HIV status and their age. However, the relationship between perceived discrimination and self-reported cognitive ability in middle-aged and older people living with HIV (PLWH) is less clear. We measured self-reported perceived discrimination and cognitive ability using the Expanded Everyday Discrimination Scale and the subscale of the AIDS Health Assessment Questionnaire (AIDS-HAQ). The study sample included 324 middle-aged and older PLWH (over 45 years old) from five designated HIV hospitals in three regions (east coast, middle, and southwest regions) of China. The descriptive analysis showed that 45.37% of the participants reported perceiving discrimination at least once in the past twelve months, and 47.22% reported having at least one type of cognitive impairment. Multiple linear regression results showed that higher levels of perceived discrimination (β = -0.121, P = 0.036) were significantly associated with lower levels of self-reported cognitive ability after controlling for several covariates, including sociodemographic variables, mental health status, health behaviors, and social support. A longer duration of HIV was also related to a lower level of self-reported cognitive ability. Our findings indicate that perceived discrimination is related to self-reported cognitive ability and suggest that counseling services and support systems should be developed to reduce age- and disease-associated discrimination. A reduction in perceived discrimination would improve not only overall wellbeing but also cognitive ability in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhu
- a Fudan University School of Nursing , Shanghai , People's Republic of China.,b A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence , Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing , Shanghai , People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Hu
- a Fudan University School of Nursing , Shanghai , People's Republic of China.,b A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence , Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing , Shanghai , People's Republic of China
| | - Weijie Xing
- a Fudan University School of Nursing , Shanghai , People's Republic of China.,b A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence , Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing , Shanghai , People's Republic of China
| | - Mengdi Guo
- c School of public affairs, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , People's Republic of China
| | - Bei Wu
- d NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing , New York , USA
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Pallotti F, Tubaro P, Casilli AA, Valente TW. "You See Yourself Like in a Mirror": The Effects of Internet-Mediated Personal Networks on Body Image and Eating Disorders. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2018; 33:1166-1176. [PMID: 28682123 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2017.1339371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Body image issues associated with eating disorders involve attitudinal and perceptual components: individuals' dissatisfaction with body shape or weight, and inability to assess body size correctly. While prior research has mainly explored social pressures produced by the media, fashion, and advertising industries, this paper focuses on the effects of personal networks on body image, particularly in the context of internet communities. We use data collected on a sample of participants to websites on eating disorders, and map their personal networks. We specify and estimate a model for the joint distribution of attitudinal and perceptual components of body image as a function of network-related characteristics and attributional factors. Supported by information gathered through in-depth interviews, the empirical estimates provide evidence that personal networks can be conducive to positive body image development, and that the influence of personal networks varies significantly by body size. We situate our discussion in current debates about the effects of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication networks on eating disorders and related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pallotti
- a Department of International Business and Economics , Business School, University of Greenwich
- b Institute of Management , Universita' della Svizzera Italiana
| | - Paola Tubaro
- a Department of International Business and Economics , Business School, University of Greenwich
- c Laboratoire de Recherche en Informatique , Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
| | - Antonio A Casilli
- d Telecom ParisTech , Interdisciplinary Institute for Innovation
- e Centre Edgar Morin , Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
| | - Thomas W Valente
- f Department of Preventive Medicine , Institute for Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
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Holland K, Dickson A, Dickson A. ‘To the horror of experts’: reading beneath scholarship on pro-ana online communities. CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2017.1382681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Holland
- Faculty of Arts & Design, News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra , Canberra, Australia
| | - Andrew Dickson
- School of Management, Massey Business School, Massey University , Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Anna Dickson
- Independent Academic , Palmerston North, New Zealand
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The stress-buffering effect of self-disclosure on Facebook: An examination of stressful life events, social support, and mental health among college students. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2017.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Moore D, Drey N, Ayers S. Use of Online Forums for Perinatal Mental Illness, Stigma, and Disclosure: An Exploratory Model. JMIR Ment Health 2017; 4:e6. [PMID: 28219879 PMCID: PMC5339438 DOI: 10.2196/mental.5926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perinatal mental illness is a global health concern; however, many women with the illness do not get the treatment they need to recover. Interventions that reduce the stigma around perinatal mental illness have the potential to enable women to disclose their symptoms to health care providers and consequently access treatment. There are many online forums for perinatal mental illness and thousands of women use them. Preliminary research suggests that online forums may promote help-seeking behavior, potentially because they have a role in challenging stigma. This study draws from these findings and theoretical concepts to present a model of forum use, stigma, and disclosure. OBJECTIVE This study tested a model that measured the mediating role of stigma between online forum use and disclosure of affective symptoms to health care providers. METHODS A Web-based survey of 200 women who were pregnant or had a child younger than 5 years and considered themselves to be experiencing psychological distress was conducted. Women were recruited through social media and questions measured forum usage, perinatal mental illness stigma, disclosure to health care providers, depression and anxiety symptoms, barriers to disclosure, and demographic information. RESULTS There was a significant positive indirect effect of length of forum use on disclosure of symptoms through internal stigma, b=0.40, bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) 95% CI 0.13-0.85. Long-term forum users reported higher levels of internal stigma, and higher internal stigma was associated with disclosure of symptoms to health care providers when controlling for symptoms of depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Internal stigma mediates the relationship between length of forum use and disclosure to health care providers. Findings suggest that forums have the potential to enable women to recognize and reveal their internal stigma, which may in turn lead to greater disclosure of symptoms to health care providers. Clinicians could refer clients to trustworthy and moderated online forums that facilitate expression of perinatal mental illness stigma and promote disclosure to health care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna Moore
- Centre for Maternal and Child Health, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Drey
- School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Ayers
- Centre for Maternal and Child Health, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Dwertmann DJG. Management research on disabilities: examining methodological challenges and possible solutions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2015.1137614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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