Published
2024-10-03
Issue
Section
Original Reports
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Brent McCreary, Dr. Danek pHd., Dr. Ireland pHd., Dr. Reyes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All work in JRMC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Self-Stigma vs. Perceived Public Stigma Toward Mental Illness in Rural Adults
Brent M. McCreary
Indiana University School of Medicine
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5044-7116
Dr. Robin Danek, Ph.D.
Indiana University School of Medicine
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8603-9392
Dr. Ellen Ireland, Ph.D
Indiana University School of Medicine
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5461-169X
Dr. Eric Reyes
Rose-Hulman
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8435-8701
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jrmc.v7i3.5938
Keywords: Rural, Mental Illness, Self-Stigma, Perceived Public Stigma, Social Disparities, Barrier to care
Abstract
Introduction:
Mental illness is a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. Stigma toward mental health comes in two primary forms: Self-stigma and perceived public stigma.
Purpose: The objective of this study is to quantify the amount of stigma toward mental illness in rural adults and analyze differences in stigma across demographic groups.
Methods: Adults were offered a 14-item questionnaire at five different sites from January 2023 to April 2023. Rural distinctions were made based on participants' reported county of residence following the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) definition of rurality. Demographic information such as age, gender, marital status, total household income, and highest level of education were also obtained.
Results: Rural adults experience mild amounts of self-stigma (14.52 +/- 5.0) and moderate amounts of perceived public stigma (18.4 +/- 4.3). Adults aged 46-65 experience more significant levels of perceived public stigma when compared to those of younger participants. An inverse relationship exists between the highest level of education and self-stigma towards mental illness. Seventy two percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “In general, others believe that having a mental illness is a sign of personal weakness or inadequacy.”
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that perceived public stigma toward mental illness presents a significant barrier to care for mental illness. Adults aged 46-65 are especially vulnerable to the perceived public stigma toward mental illness. To provide the largest benefit to rural populations, anti-stigma campaigns should focus on perceived public stigma among adults aged 46-65.
