Predictors of Stigma toward Alcohol Misuse in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: This study explored factors associated with public stigma toward individuals misusing alcohol in Mexico. Methods: A randomized experimental vignette methodology was used to assess multiple domains of substance use-related stigma and their relationship to the gender of the vignette subject and the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents. Results: Although levels of stigma toward women who were misusing alcohol did not differ significantly from stigma toward men misusing alcohol, stigma levels and type of stigma reported varied with the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents. Education level, gender, self-stigma and openness to seeking mental health services were differentially associated with the three stigma domains. Conclusions: Accordingly, targeted community based stigma reduction efforts are needed to decrease stigma toward those misusing alcohol, and to support treatment initiation, ongoing treatment engagement and long term recovery efforts. Suggestions for future research on the relationship between substance use and stigma are offered.

Keywords:

• addiction
• alcohol
• stigma
• substance use
• Mexico

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the research associates from the (University in Mexico) for their assistance with data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Compliance with ethical standards

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Contribution statement

Dr. Robin E. Gearing, Dr. Kathryne B. Brewer, Dr. Micki Washburn, Dr. Luis R. Torres and Dr. Pedro de la Cruz contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation was performed by Dr. Robin E. Gearing, Dr. Luis R. Torres and Dr. Micki Washburn. Data collection was overseen by Dr. Pedro de la Cruz and analysis were performed by Dr. Maio Yu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Dr. Micki Washburn and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval

The research team received IRB approval from the University of Houston and Ethics approval from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM)

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Houston (PI Gearing).