An Examination of Racial and Ethnic Differences in Internalized Mental Health Stigma and Perceived Mental Health Barriers Due to Stigma Among Women Veterans

<p>The stigma associated with mental illness can serve as a barrier for receiving treatment. Veterans may avoid seeking care due to stigma-related negative beliefs about one’s self or others. Research suggests that the stigma of mental illness can adversely impact service utilization. Although studies have shown that racial and ethnic minoritized individuals are more likely to experience poor mental health outcomes, no studies have examined how mental illness stigma differs across racial groups among women veterans. The objective of this secondary analysis is to examine how internalized mental health stigma and perceived barriers to access to care related to mental health stigma may differ across race and ethnicity in women veterans. The sample included 412 women veterans who participated in an anonymous national survey. Participants completed measures of internalized mental illness stigma (Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale Brief Version [ISMI-10]) and barriers to accessing mental health care (Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation Treatment Stigma Subscale [BACE-TSS]). A multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted to examine if there were groups differences based on race/ethnicity in internalized mental health stigma and barriers to access to care due to mental health stigma while covarying for age; no significant differences were found. The implications of the present findings and future directions are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Iglesias, Christe’An D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Patton Garriott
• Apryl Alexander
• Lisa M. Brownstone
• Lindsey L. Monteith
• Jennifer Gafford

• Barriers
• Ethnicity
• Race
• Stigma
• Veterans
• Women veterans
• Counseling Psychology
• Military and Veterans Studies
• Psychology
• Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
• Social Statistics
• Women's Studies

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1938

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-2935