Effect of self-stigma on personal recovery

Introduction: Recently, there has been growing evidence on self-stigma and personal recovery in people with psychotic spectrum disorders. However, despite the influence of sex on mental health and the social component of self-stigma and recovery, the evidence regarding self-stigma, personal recovery...

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Authors: León-Morales, Daniela, Navarro, José-Blas|||0000-0001-5929-4224, Lamarca, Maria, González-Higueras, Fermín|||0000-0002-0826-5981, Torres, Pedro, Cid Colom, Jordi|||0000-0002-6406-0585, Frigola-Capell, Eva|||0000-0003-4758-0316, Birulés, Irene|||0000-0001-6518-7310, Ochoa, Susana|||0000-0001-6792-1080, Vidal, Carme, Garrido García, Gemma|||0000-0003-0411-5756, Crosas Armengol, Josep Maria|||0000-0002-0734-2957, Aznar, Ana, Palma-Sevillano, Carolina|||0000-0001-5371-7417, Sastre-Buades, Aina|||0000-0001-7451-2680, Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones, Julia|||0000-0002-9582-3389, Vallina-Fernández, Oscar, Gutiérrez, Enrique|||0000-0002-0045-7372, Calvo, Ana|||0000-0002-7953-2629
Format: article
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:321879
Online Access:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/321879
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3389/fgwh.2025.1655885
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Recovery
Self-stigma
Schizophrenia
Psychotic disorders
Sex differences
Description
Summary:Introduction: Recently, there has been growing evidence on self-stigma and personal recovery in people with psychotic spectrum disorders. However, despite the influence of sex on mental health and the social component of self-stigma and recovery, the evidence regarding self-stigma, personal recovery, and sex is limited and inconsistent. This research aims to study the role of sex in the effect that self-stigma has on the personal recovery of people with psychotic spectrum disorders. Methods: A sample of 118 patients with a psychosis diagnose participated in the study (55.9% men). They were recruited from 9 clinical centers in Spain. Data were collected through the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness and the Recovery Assessment Scale. Results: The effect of self-stigma on personal recovery differed according to the sex of the person. Specifically, in women, personal recovery decreased as self-stigma and alienation increased. Also, a higher self-stigma was associated with a lower personal confidence, hope and symptom control. In contrast, in men, a higher alienation was associated with higher personal confidence, hope and success orientation. These results were adjusted for educational level, comorbidity, number of psychotic episodes, and the time between symptom onset and treatment initiation. Discussion: These findings highlight the urgent need to explore further the role of sex on recovery and to have a sex-sensitive approach in policies and interventions in this population. This would benefit their recovery and, in consequence, their quality of life. Future studies should expand the sample and explore other factors that could be influencing the process of recovery and self-stigma.