Internalization of stigma and self-esteem as it affects the capacity for intimacy among patients with schizophrenia, comparison between Jews and Arabs

Abstract

In addition to the physical and psychological signs and symptoms of their disorder, people who have schizophrenia also experience severe repercussions associated with social isolation [1]. Internalization of social stigma was found to be a statistically significant core factor that affects self-esteem and the ability to create intimacy among Jewish patients with schizophrenia. Significantly more Muslim patients were married in comparison to Jewish patients. There was statistically significantly less internalization of stigma of mental illness among hospitalized patients than among individuals with schizophrenia who live in the community [2]. The current study examines the relationship between internalization of stigma, self-esteem, and the ability of people diagnosed with schizophrenia to form intimate attachments with loved ones, in Arab patients compare to the existing sample of 24 patients from the Jewish sector 2. Data is gathered for 27 Muslim patients with schizophrenia who live in the community, ages 18–60, men and women from the following four questionnaires: Demographics Questionnaire, Self-Esteem Scale, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and the Intimacy Attitude Scale-Revised. The study received the approval of the Ethics Committee. There was statistically significantly less internalization of stigma of mental illness, high self-esteem and high capacity for intimacy among Jewish patients than among Muslim patients. Knowledge of how these variables affect the capacity for intimacy provides a therapeutic window for advanced nursing interventions that will eventually provide support and guidance cultural adapted, for people with schizophrenia in creating intimate relationships.

References not available.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.