The Survey of the Status of Self-stigma of Depression and Its Relationship with Demographic Factors in Gonabad, Iran

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Dec 13

PMID 39670147

Authors

Hadi Tehrani

Fatemehzahra Naddafi

Mahbobeh Nejatian

Alireza Jafari

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a common mental illness. Depression stigma can reduce individuals' desire to seek mental health services. No study has investigated depression self-stigma and its relationship with demographic factors in the general population of Gonabad city in Iran. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the relationship between depression self-stigma and demographic factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,075 Iranians living in Gonabad city in 2024. Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select participants. Data collection tools included demographic data and the self-stigma of depression scale (SSDS). Higher SSDS scores indicate greater depression self-stigma. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 with the independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation.

Results: The mean (± SD) of self-stigma of depression (SSD) was 42.51 (9.31). Only 16.1% of the participants mentioned that they had a mental disorder, and 17.2% reported that they had been referred to a psychologist. Based on the results, males had more SSD ( = 0.028), help-seeking inhibition ( < 0.001), and shame ( = 0.002) than females. There were no significant relationships between education level, economic status, age group, occupation, and marital status with SSD ( > 0.05). Individuals with a history of mental disorder had higher SSD ( = 0.011) and help-seeking inhibition ( = 0.004). People who did not obtain information related to mental illness had more help-seeking inhibition ( = 0.001). Based on the Pearson correlation results, a positive and significant correlation coefficient was observed between the subscales of SSDS ( < 0.001).

Conclusion: The results of the study showed that SSD level was 42.51 ± 9.31 from 70. SSD is one of the main obstacles to help-seeking and treatment, so providing knowledge and awareness in this area is essential to the community.

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