Perceived Stigma and Self-Stigma in College Students: A Literature Review and Implications for Practice and Research

Altering the landscape of mental illness stigma on university campuses.

“…Findings specific to the literature examining mental illness stigma in university student populations indisputably reflect pervasive stigma on university campuses in (Corrigan et al, 2016;Eisenberg, Downs, et al, 2009;Yamaguchi et al, 2013) and outside of the U.S. (Vogel et al, 2017;Yamaguchi et al, 2013). Public stigma is typically found to be represented at higher levels than selfstigma, which is also frequently studied in this population (Corrigan et al, 2016;Eisenberg, Downs, et al, 2009;Golberstein et al, 2008Golberstein et al, , 2009Guarneri et al, 2019;Lipson et al, 2019;Pedersen & Paves, 2014;Vogel et al, 2017).…”

“…More robust evidence has been found for the negative association between self-stigma and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors in college student samples (Eisenberg, Downs, et al, 2009; Pedersen & Paves, 2014; Vogel et al, 2006), and self-stigma has been found to link public stigma to attitudes and behavior toward help-seeking (Jennings et al, 2015; Vogel et al, 2007, 2017). This has led some researchers to contend that the combined effect of public and self-stigma is more predictive of mental illness treatment-seeking attitudes and behaviors than public stigma alone (Guarneri et al, 2019). We do not discount this contention.…”

“…Similarly, the literature examining the outcomes of mental illness stigma in college student populations has demonstrated support for a negative association between public stigma and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors (Golberstein et al, 2008;Guarneri et al, 2019;Pedersen & Paves, 2014;Vogel et al, 2017;Yamaguchi et al, 2013), although the findings from some studies have been less conclusive (Eisenberg, Downs, et al, 2009;Golberstein et al, 2009). More robust evidence has been found for the negative association between self-stigma and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors in college student samples (Eisenberg, Downs, et al, 2009;Pedersen & Paves, 2014;Vogel et al, 2006), and self-stigma has been found to link public stigma to attitudes and behavior toward help-seeking (Jennings et al, 2015;Vogel et al, 2007Vogel et al, , 2017.…”

Is a fit to be found

“…Individuals tend to view routine social interactions through the "lens" of their status as member of a minority group (Begeny & Huo, 2017). Discrimination can have an impact on ethnic-racial minority group students' bond with the academic setting (Guarneri, Oberleitner, & Connolly, 2019;Verkuyten, Thijs, & Gharei, 2019). Discrimination implies a threat to the students' social identity needs, specifically the need to belong, which is an important support for academic engagement and performance.…”

“…The sub-theme of minority status relates to the students' self-reported experiences with their minority status. Individuals tend to view routine social interactions through the "lens" of their minority status (Begeny & Huo, 2017), and perceived discrimination can reduce their bond with their university (Guarneri et al, 2019;Verkuyten et al, 2019). The participants noted they were frequently the only African American person in a group or activity at their university leading to feelings of isolation.…”