Negotiating familial mental illness stigma: The role of family members of persons living with mental illnesses.
Journal
PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2024
2024
Historique:
received:
13
07
2023
accepted:
14
09
2024
medline:
30
9
2024
pubmed:
30
9
2024
entrez:
30
9
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
This study explores how family members of individuals with mental illnesses address potential familial mental illness stigma. Previous studies have concentrated on self, social, and associative stigma and its impacts on families and persons with mental illnesses. Far less work has considered family members as perpetrators of mental illness stigma towards their loved ones with mental illnesses. We conducted this study with 15 participants who were family members of persons with mental illnesses using semi-structured qualitative interviews. The in-depth interviews were followed by inductive analysis using Braun and Clarke's technique for thematic analysis. Participants' views on familial mental illness stigma and ways to reduce this were reported in five key themes. The themes included: (1) layered perspectives of social and family stigma; (2) family-related stigma; (3) complex interplay of family relationships and mental illness; (4) confronting stigma personally; and (5) envisioning a better future. The uncertainties connected with mental illnesses and the increased social stigma were conceptualized as contributors to familial mental illness stigma as ways to prevent potential associative stigma. Participants suggested the need for more social contact-based education and positive media reporting to correct the ongoing fallacies around mental illnesses. This study highlights how higher-order reforms to social systems and services would support both families and those living with mental illnesses to have more positive experiences.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
This study explores how family members of individuals with mental illnesses address potential familial mental illness stigma. Previous studies have concentrated on self, social, and associative stigma and its impacts on families and persons with mental illnesses. Far less work has considered family members as perpetrators of mental illness stigma towards their loved ones with mental illnesses.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
RESULTS
We conducted this study with 15 participants who were family members of persons with mental illnesses using semi-structured qualitative interviews. The in-depth interviews were followed by inductive analysis using Braun and Clarke's technique for thematic analysis. Participants' views on familial mental illness stigma and ways to reduce this were reported in five key themes. The themes included: (1) layered perspectives of social and family stigma; (2) family-related stigma; (3) complex interplay of family relationships and mental illness; (4) confronting stigma personally; and (5) envisioning a better future. The uncertainties connected with mental illnesses and the increased social stigma were conceptualized as contributors to familial mental illness stigma as ways to prevent potential associative stigma.
CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE
CONCLUSIONS
Participants suggested the need for more social contact-based education and positive media reporting to correct the ongoing fallacies around mental illnesses. This study highlights how higher-order reforms to social systems and services would support both families and those living with mental illnesses to have more positive experiences.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39348379
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311170
pii: PONE-D-23-19068
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e0311170Informations de copyright
Copyright: © 2024 Adu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.