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4 - Measurement of Mental Illness Stigma and Discrimination

from Part I - Understanding Stigma and Mental Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2022

By
Elaine Brohan ,
Maria Milenova ,
Ioannis Bakolis ,
Sara Evans-Lacko ,
Brandon A. Kohrt  and
Graham Thornicroft
Edited by
David L. Vogel  and
Nathaniel G. Wade
David L. Vogel
Affiliation:
Iowa State University
Nathaniel G. Wade
Affiliation:
Iowa State University
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Summary

Research on the measurement of mental illness stigma and discrimination has grown rapidly in the past 15 years with a large number of measures developed. This chapter first defines mental illness stigma and discrimination and highlights the importance of using an appropriately targeted measurement strategy including consideration of key measurement principles such as content validity, context of use, and psychometric properties. Nine commonly used measures of perceived, experienced, and self -stigma and discrimination are then highlighted with measurement considerations summarized. We also discuss global and local measurement issues including translation and cross-cultural adaptation. Future directions for stigma and discrimination measurement research in mental illness stigma and discrimination are presented including the need to ensure that research includes consideration of complexity and variation in the experience of stigma and discrimination and that research is focused proportionately on communities that experience the most mental illness stigma and discrimination.

Keywords

measurementdiscriminationmental illness stigmaperceived stigmaexperienced stigmaself-stigma
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Stigma and Mental Health , pp. 52 - 70
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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