Association between Work Environments and Stigma towards People with Schizophrenia among Mental Health Professionals in Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association between control over practice in work environments and stigma toward people with schizophrenia among mental health professionals. We conducted secondary analyses on data from a self-administered questionnaire survey. The sample in the initial study included mental health professionals from two psychiatric hospitals, 56 psychiatric clinics, and community service agencies in Japan. The Ethics Committee of the University of Tokyo, approved this study. Data from 279 participants were used for secondary analyses (valid response rate = 58.7%). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to determine the association between control over practice and stigma. We performed subgroup analyses among nurses (n = 121) and psychiatric social workers (n = 92). Control over practice was negatively associated with stigma among mental health professionals (β = −0.162, p < 0.01). The subgroup analyses among nurses indicated that control over practice, educational history and recovery knowledge were associated with stigma. However, these variables were not associated with stigma among psychiatric social workers. Control over practice might help to reduce stigma among mental health professionals. Factors related to stigma might differ by occupation. Therefore, further comprehensive studies among various professionals would further our understanding of these factors.

Community Stigma Among Schizophrenia During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…However, statistically different sociodemographic factors result in different variations in stigma views between sex groups and attitudes towards pasung and income levels (Hartini et al, 2018). Previous research conducted in Japan on mental health professionals, that practice in the work environment can help reduce the stigma of schizophrenics (Kato et al, 2021) There is a relationship between religion and society's stigma against mental disorders. The results show that the majority are Muslim.…”

Community Mental Health Services in Japan:

“…24 This concept is highly compatible with the community mental health services that support patientsʼ community lives. Studies have shown that knowledge of recovery reduces psychiatric staff prejudice, 25 being recovery-oriented increases the sense of achievement and job satisfaction of psychiatric staff, 26,27 and psychiatric staffʼs experience in recovery-oriented practices enhances their self-efficacy. 28 Therefore, it was predicted that the psychiatric staffʼs reduction of prejudice toward patients, recovery orientation, and increase in job satisfaction and self-efficacy would be interrelated and that these factors would positively affect the number of visits.…”

Depression severity mediates stigma and quality of life in clinically stable people with schizophrenia in rural China

“…First, many studies have shown that both internal and social stigma significantly affect the QOL of PWS [29,30]. For example, it can lead to social exclusion, preventing patients from engaging in meaningful life activities [31,32] and reducing their self-esteem and self-efficacy [33], which are important components of self-concept, and the deterioration of this self-concept may produce a number of negative outcomes that may affect their recovery outcomes.…”