Predicting Self-Esteem and Intentions to Seek Counseling: The Internalized Stigma Model Ψ. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lannin, Daniel G.; Vogel, David L.; Brenner, Rachel E.; Tucker, Jeritt R.
• Is Part Of: Counseling psychologist. Volume 43:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: public stigma -- self-stigma -- mental illness -- help-seeking -- self-esteem; Counseling psychology -- Periodicals; 158.305
• DOI: 10.1177/0011000014541550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-0000

Abstract

This investigation introduced the Internalized Stigma Model to test the mechanisms by which the stigma of mental illness and of seeking psychological help affect self-esteem and intentions to seek counseling. We hypothesized that both stigmas would predict decreased self-esteem, but only stigma of seeking psychological help would predict decreased intentions to seek counseling. Furthermore, we predicted that these links follow a process wherein people's perceptions of societal stigma are fully mediated by internalization of that stigma. Public stigmas predict their respective self-stigmas, which subsequently predict self-esteem and intentions. Using structural equation modeling, we tested the hypothesized relationships in a sample of undergraduates ( N = 448). Results supported the hypotheses. Self-stigma mediated the relationship between public stigma and both outcomes; both self-stigma of mental illness and self-stigma of seeking psychological help predicted decreased self-esteem, but only self-stigma of seeking psychological help predicted decreased intentions to seek counseling.