Date of Award
12-1-2023
Language
English
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
College/School/Department
Department of Psychology
Dissertation/Thesis Chair
John P Forsyth
Keywords
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mental Health Self-Stigma, Psychological Distress, Psychological Inflexibility
Subject Categories
Psychology
Abstract
Background: Stigma about mental health and illness remains a pervasive public health concern. Moreover, stigmatizing oneself for experiencing a mental health disorder is associated with further psychological distress. Yet, processes that may account for this relation remain unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate processes that may account for this relationship, with specific attention to psychological inflexibility as a transdiagnostic mediator between self-stigma and psychological distress. Methods: Undergraduates (N = 486, Mage = 18.68, SDage = 1.31, 66% Female) completed a battery of measures assessing self-stigma, psychological inflexibility, and psychological distress. We tested psychological inflexibility and its six subprocesses as mediators of relations between self-stigma and psychological distress. We then reversed the model to assess relations between psychological distress and self-stigma. Results: As expected, psychological inflexibility fully mediated relations between self-stigma and psychological distress. In parallel multiple mediation models, inaction, lack of contact with values, and self-as-content emerged as unique contributors to relations between self-stigma and psychological distress. Discussion: Self-stigma leads to distress through a rigid or inflexible pattern of responding to internal experiences. Self-as-content, inaction, and lack of contact with values further refine the pathway between the two constructs. The significance of the two behavioral components of inflexibility bolsters extant theory that self-stigma increases distress by inhibiting help-seeking behaviors. Conclusion: Stigma reduction interventions may benefit from a process-based framework, specifically a focus on self-as-content, inaction, and lack of contact with values. Intervention-based studies are needed to further clarify these processes.
Recommended Citation
White, Sara V., "Toward A Process-Based Account Of Mental Health Self-Stigma And Distress: Elucidating The Contribution Of Psychological Inflexibility And Its Six Component Subprocesses" (2023). Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024). 3269.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/legacy-etd/3269