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Perceptions of self-stigma and its correlates among older adults with depression: a preliminary study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Perla Werner ,
Ifat Stein-Shvachman  and
Jeremia Heinik
Perla Werner*
Affiliation:
Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Israel
Ifat Stein-Shvachman
Affiliation:
Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Israel
Jeremia Heinik
Affiliation:
Margoletz Psychogeriatric Center, Ichilov Hospital and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Perla Werner, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel. Phone: +972-4-8249565; Fax: +972-4-8240573. Email: werner@research.haifa.ac.il.
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Abstract

Background: Depression is common in old age and is often associated with stigma. However, to date, little is known about self-stigma (internalization of stigmatic beliefs) in depressed older people despite its importance and consequences. The aim of this study was to examine self-stigma and its correlates in depressed older people.

Methods: Phone interviews were conducted with 54 persons diagnosed with major depression (78% female, average age = 74) from a psychogeriatric clinic in the central area of Israel. Self-stigma was assessed using an adapted version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Health (ISMI) scale. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Self-esteem was measured using Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale. Information regarding sociodemographic and psychiatric health characteristics was also collected.

Results: Self-stigma was relatively moderate with 10% to 20% of the participants reporting self-stigma. Those who reported higher levels of self-stigma were younger than those who did not report it. Income and education were lower in persons who reported high levels of stigmatization. Persons who reported stigmatization scored higher on the GDS and reported lower self-esteem than those without stigmatization.

Conclusions: This study represents an effort to examine the correlates of self-stigma in depressed older people. Since self-stigma exists among older adults, further studies are required to extend this body of knowledge.

Keywords

self-stigmadepressionolder adultsmental illness
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2009 , pp. 1180 - 1189
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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