Association of media portrayals and negative interpersonal experiences with internalized stigma among outpatients with schizophrenia

Objective

This study examined factors associated with internalized stigma among community-dwelling individuals with schizophrenia, focusing on associations with negative interpersonal experiences, media representations, and illness duration. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 80 outpatients at a university hospital using the Japanese version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-10). Associations between self-stigma and treatment duration, negative interpersonal reactions, and perceived discrepancies in media portrayals were analyzed. Binary logistic regression analysis was also performed, adjusting for treatment duration.