Qualitative analysis of how individuals cope with stigma V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Interview study of discrimination and self-esteem in people with experience of a mental health problem
IRAS ID
193016
Contact name
Lauren Armstrong
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Stigmatised individuals face a number of societal disadvantages, including within the remits of housing, education, health care and employment. Stigma has been shown to lead to reduced self-esteem and adverse effects on mental health. Further, the development of mental health problems itself can then become a target for prejudice and discrimination.
Self-esteem is associated with a number of negative outcomes, including physical and mental health indices, and is thought to act as a risk factor for the development of psychological problems such as depression and eating disorders. Low self-esteem may also make it more difficult to cope with or recover from a mental health problem. However, not everyone who faces stigma will suffer reduced self-esteem, therefore it is important to understand how individuals respond to stigma and how this impacts on their self-esteem.
The current study will utilise semi-structured interviews to understand the cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses to both anticipated and direct experiences of stigma in people with a history of a common mental health problem, and how these responses might relate to self-esteem. It will also investigate whether there is a difference between the way that people with both high versus low levels of self-esteem respond and cope to stigma. It is hoped this data will be able to inform the development of a future intervention designed to help people with mental health problems build and maintain self-esteem in the face of stigma.
People with a history of a common mental health problem including anxiety and depression will be recruited from the Southwark Psychological Therapies Service, part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and from the general public.
This study is funded by the ESRC.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0207
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion