The stigma of having a parent with mental illness: Genetic attributions and associative stigma

Abstract

Children often report associative stigma because they are 'contaminated' by association with a parent who has a mental illness. An exploratory study was conducted to investigate the role of genetic attributions in the aetiology of associative stigma. The first hypothesis was that genetic attributions would predict associative stigma over and above the contribution of biochemical and stressful-event attributions, while the second hypothesis was that the relationship between genetic attributions and associative stigma would be mediated by the perceived likelihood that children would develop the same disorder as their parents. Two-hundred-andtwo individuals were asked to read a hypothetical scenario describing a teenage girl whose mother had been diagnosed with either schizophrenia or depression. Both hypotheses were supported. The findings of the study have implications for a number of professions working in the community such as teachers and psychologists. Additional avenues for future research are also explored.

Genetic causal attribution of epilepsy and its implications for felt stigma

“…Most research on the effects of geneticization on family members of people with stigmatized disorders examines views of the public toward the relatives . In contrast, we examined felt stigma from the point of view of the family members themselves.…”

“…Most research on the effects of geneticization on family members of people with stigmatized disorders examines views of the public toward the relatives. 16,17 In contrast, we examined felt stigma from the point of view of the family members themselves. We are aware of only one other study that has addressed this question in epilepsy: a study of mothers of children with epilepsy in Zambia, which found that 20% of the mothers felt stigmatized because of the child's epilepsy.…”

“…In the context of psychiatric disorders, studies of the general public have found associations between genetic attribution and increased associative stigma (i.e., stigma directed to family members of those with the disorder), 16,17 desire for social distance, and perception of dangerousness. [18][19][20] Findings have been consistent with expectations from genetic essentialism, which posits that viewing disorders as genetic makes them appear more fundamental to the person, exacerbating the sense of difference and making the disorders appear more severe and persistent.…”

Children whose parents have a mental illness: prevalence, need and treatment

“…16 Stigma is often associated with mental illness, and children who live with a parent with a mental illness are perceived by some to be "contaminated" by their parent. 17 One seminal study found that the direct effects of parental mental illness were less detrimental than the social adversity (such as unemployment, housing problems and isolation)…”

Can I Tell Just by Myself? Discussing a Parental Mental Disorder With a Child in a Research Interview

“…For example, Koschade and Lynd-Stevenson (2011) propose that children with parental mental problems have to find ways to cope with their associative stigma; the old saying "like father like son" may insidiously affect the life of these children. Moreover, Gladstone, Boydell, and McKeever (2006) argue that being identified as "at risk" for a mental disorder is a powerful label for children.…”