Stigma of Depression and Related Factors in University Students

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Student of Medicine, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Stigma is a mark of disgrace in the society's attitude that discredits a person or a group because of an attribute such as a deformity, color, or mental illness. Stigma can adversely affect all aspects of life. Depression is one of the most common mental health problems. The goal of the current study was to investigate some factors associated with stigma of depression among university students in Isfahan City, Iran, in order to facilitate possible interventions.Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the stigma of depression in students of University of Isfahan, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, and Art University of Isfahan, and was conducted among 553 participants. We used a questionnaire designed by Griffiths et al. and translated it to Persian to evaluate the personal and perceived stigma.Findings: Personal stigma was statistically lower in participants with positive history of depression (P = 0.007). It was also lower in married participants (P = 0.030). Perceived stigma was significantly higher in students of University of Isfahan comparing to other universities (P = 0.009).Conclusion: Positive history of depression, being a married person, and being a student of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences or Art University of Isfahan are protective factors against the stigma of depression in university students in Isfahan City.

Keywords

References

  1. Corrigan PW, Watson AC. Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry 2002; 1(1): 16-20.
  2. Corrigan P. How stigma interferes with mental health care. Am Psychol 2004; 59(7): 614-25.
  3. World Health Organization. The introduction of a mental health component into primary health care. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 1990.
  4. Clak DA, Beck AT, Alford BA. Scientific foundations of cognitive theory and therapy of depression. New York, NY: Wiley; 1999. p. 1-3.
  5. Mohammadi MR, Davidian H, Noorbala AA, Malekafzali H, Naghavi HR, Pouretemad HR, et al. An epidemiological survey of psychiatric disorders in Iran. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health 2005; 1: 16.
  6. Corry P. Stigma shout: Service user and carer experiences of stigma and discrimination. London, UK: Time to Change; 2008.
  7. Sadruddin S. Predictors of treatment delay in depressive disorder in pakistan [PhD Thesis]. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto; 2007.
  8. Ordoubadi A. Mental health of students. Shiraz, Iran: Shiraz University Publications; 1991. p.1. [In Persian].
  9. Chisholm K, Patterson P, Torgerson C, Turner E, Jenkinson D, Birchwood M. Impact of contact on adolescents' mental health literacy and stigma: the SchoolSpace cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2016; 6(2): e009435.
  10. Alexander L, Link B. The impact of contact on stigmatizing attitudes toward people with mental illness. Journal of Mental Health 2003; 12(3): 271-89.
  11. Griffiths KM, Christensen H, Jorm AF, Evans K, Groves C. Effect of web-based depression literacy and cognitive-behavioural therapy interventions on stigmatising attitudes to depression: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2004; 185: 342-9.
  12. Griffiths KM, Christensen H, Jorm AF. Predictors of depression stigma. BMC Psychiatry 2008; 8: 25.
  13. Papadopoulos C, Leavey G, Vincent C. Factors influencing stigma: a comparison of Greek-Cypriot and English attitudes towards mental illness in north London. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2002; 37(9): 430-4.
  14. Lauber C, Ajdacic-Gross V, Fritschi N, Stulz N, Rossler W. Mental health literacy in an educational elite -- an online survey among university students. BMC Public Health 2005; 5: 44.
  15. Brohan E, Gauci D, Sartorius N, Thornicroft G. Self-stigma, empowerment and perceived discrimination among people with bipolar disorder or depression in 13 European countries: the GAMIAN-Europe study. J Affect Disord 2011; 129(1-3): 56-63.
  16. Kanter JW, Rusch LC, Brondino MJ. Depression self-stigma: a new measure and preliminary findings. J Nerv Ment Dis 2008; 196(9): 663-70.
  17. Scottish Association Mental Health. A World to belong to: social networks of people with mental health problems. Glasgow, Scotland: SAMH; 2006.
  18. Corrigan PW, Watson AC, Miller FE. Blame, shame, and contamination: the impact of mental illness and drug dependence stigma on family members. J Fam Psychol 2006; 20(2): 239-46.
  19. Dahlberg KM, Waern M, Runeson B. Mental health literacy and attitudes in a Swedish community sample - investigating the role of personal experience of mental health care. BMC Public Health 2008; 8: 8.
  20. Farjad M. Behavioral problems and mental disorders in the family. Tehran, Iran: Badr Publications, 1995. p.101. [In Persian].
  21. Nazarzadeh F, Mami S, Nazarzadeh M. Examine the relationship between personality type and level of confidence in the girl students in Zainab hostel of Lorestan University. J Ilam Univ Med Sci 2014; 22(3): 149-54. [In Persian].
  22. Holubova M, Prasko J, Ociskova M, Marackova M, Grambal A, Slepecky M. Self-stigma and quality of life in patients with depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2016; 12: 2677-87.
  23. Boerema AM, Kleiboer A, Beekman ATF, van Zoonen K, Dijkshoorn H, Cuijpers P. Determinants of help-seeking behavior in depression: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2016; 16(1): 78.
  24. Haghighat R. A unitary theory of stigmatisation: pursuit of self-interest and routes to destigmatisation. Br J Psychiatry 2001; 178: 207-15.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 35, Issue 428 - Serial Number 428
March and April 2017
Pages 488-495

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 14 February 2017
  • Revise Date: 01 June 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics