The Internalized Stigma and Self-Esteem in Individuals with Alcohol and Risky Substance Use Disorder

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between the internalized stigma and self-esteem in individuals with alcohol and risky substance use disorder. The sample of the study is consisted of 233 individuals who have been diagnosed with alcohol and substance use disorder and are undergoing inpatient or outpatient treatment. The researcher’s Socio-Demographic Information Form, Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSEI) and The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) were applied to the participants. The data of the study was collected in person between 10^th of May – 31^st of December 2021 at the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Research, Treatment and Education Center (AMATEM). The mean CSEI score of participants was 39,51 ± 11,84, and the mean ISMI score was 78,70 ± 9,70. It was discovered that the social withdrawal scores of the unemployed are higher than those of the retired (p < .05). There was a positive correlation between social withdrawal and self-esteem r = 0.172, and stigma resistance and self-esteem r = 0.14 (p = 0,033 < 0.05). It was found that the self-esteem and the internalized stigma experienced by individuals with alcohol and risky substance use disorder were moderate, and there was a positive correlation between self-esteem and the ISMI subscales of social withdrawal and stigma resistance.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol and risky substance use
• self-esteem
• internalized stigma

Acknowledgments

We thank all the patients who participated in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

The study was reviewed and approved by the Bandırma On yedi Eylül University Institutional Review Board (dated 08.05.2021 and decision number 2021/29).

Author bio

HGY, LUA conceptualization of the study, questionnaire design, sampling design and data collection, analysis and manuscript drafting.

Data availability of statement

Data may be shared upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.