Stigma

Question 1

How would you define stigma

Answer 1

Link and Phelan (2001)
5 components:
1) distinguishing and labelling
2) un/conscious stereotyping 
3) Us and Them separation
4) status loss
5) structural discrimination and discrimination by individuals

Question 2

2 studies that show the negative effect of stigma

Answer 2

Hatzenbuehler et al, 2012,2013

Barr et al, 2016

Question 3

What was the Hatzenbuehler et al study

Answer 3

Prevalence of psychiatric conditions is much higher in the LGBT+ community in the US where they have fewer legal protections
This dropped when gay marriage was legalised

12 months after legalisation, sexual minority men had a significant decrease in medical care visits and mental health visits compared to 12 months earlier

Question 4

What did Barr et al show in their study

Answer 4

2016

In areas where more people had the Work Capability Reassessment there was an increase in suicides, mental health problems and antidepressant prescriptions

Question 5

How can labelling be useful

What study is closely associated with this

Answer 5

Group formation
Validation of illness - emotional relief and socially acceptable reason for failure to cope
Practical allowances (treatment, dr’s note etc)

Huiber and Wessely (2006)

Question 6

Why may labelling be bad

Answer 6

Diagnosis may lead to a transition to “sick role” and a worse prognosis

Diagnosis must be a trade off between empowerment contrasted with the risk of diagnosis as a self fulfilling prophecy of non recovery

Question 7

What disease may people fight for a diagnosis despite stigma

Which study is associated with it

Answer 7

CFS - stigmatised due to contested physiological cause

Huiber and Wessely (2006) - benefits of diagnosis

Question 8

Give the structure of a stigma essay

Answer 8

Intro with definition
Negative impact of stigma on health ( Hatzenbuehler and Barr) + stress (ACE)
Positives of labels
Risks of diagnosis