Effects of a Natural Contact Program on Decreasing Self-Stigma among Individuals with Schizophrenia in Taiwan

Der-Yan Han, Chih-Hsuan Chen, Shih-Ming Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Research evidence suggests that interpersonal contact reduces public stigma, but few studies focus on the self-stigma. Based on this contact hypothesis, we developed a 1-day natural contact program to reduce self-stigma of schizophrenic patients. Methods: In total, 17 in patients with chronic schizophrenia joined the program and completed the Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale before and after the activity. A paired t-test was used to test the effect of the program. Results: It showed that the subscale fear of social ostracism significantly improved, but concerns over marital prospects and self-deprecation did not. Conclusion: The finding suggests that interpersonal contact would be a practical strategy to reduce patients' fear of social ostracism, and it is necessary to create advanced strategies for reducing the other dimensions of self-stigma.
Translated title of the contribution一日接觸方案降低台灣思覺失調症患者的自我污名之成效分析
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-38
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Clinical Psychology
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Keywords

  • stigma
  • schizophrenia
  • contact hypothesis
  • social ostracism

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