Internalized stigmatization and social functioning in psychiatric patients

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between with sociodemographic characteristics, internalized stigmatization and social functioning in psychiatric patients. Material and Method: The research was conducted as cross-sectional study. The population of the study consisted of 170 patients. The research sample consisted of 119 patients in the hospital during 2015. An information form, the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale were used to collect data. Evaluation of data was performed with the use of percentages, regression analyses and Pearson correlation. Results: It was seen that 52.9% of the patients taking part in the study were female and 47.1% were male, 33.6% were educated to high school level, and 83.2% lived with their families. It was determined in the study that those who were married, those with university level education, those whose income and expenditure were in balance and those whose income levels were high, those whose duration of illness was 1-5 years, and females rather than males had better social functioning (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was shown that in most patients, their illness affected their social functioning and stigmatization. It was determined that as stigmatization increased in patients, social functioning was reduced. It is thought that psychiatry nurse who is working in this area should attempt to increase functioning of the patients in cooperation with institutions and patients family