Coping strategies and self-stigma in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Figures & data

Table 1 Description of the sample of 104 participants: demographic and clinical data

Variables	Frequencies and percentages
Sex (male:female)	41:63
Education
Elementary	10 (9.6%)
Vocational training	26 (25%)
Secondary school	51 (49%)
University	16 (15.5%)
Marital status
Single	61 (58.7%)
Married	24 (23.1%)
Divorced	16 (15.4%)
Widowed	1 (2.8%)
Employment (yes/no)	33/71
Retirement	88
Full disability rent	61
Partial disability rent	20
Pension	7
From a two parent family	66
From a one parent family	31
Brothers/sisters (yes/no)	91/13
Birth order
First-born	44
Second-born	37
Third-born	10
Using psychiatric medication (yes/no)	102/2
Regular use	93
Regularly, more than prescribed amount	2
Irregular use	7

Table 2 Mean scores of coping strategies according to SVF-78

Coping strategies, positive/negative	Mean ± standard deviation
Underestimation	47.77±12.57
Guilt denial	54.35±12.2
Diversion	50.88±9.88
Alternative satisfaction	55.57±10.2
Situation control	44.95±11.08
Reaction control	47.76±10.8
Positive self-instruction	41.37±11.95
Need for social support*	50.98±11.02
Active avoidance*	55.76±8.9
Using positive coping	49.5±11.8
Escape tendency	61.82±9.42
Perseveration	49.9±12.5
Resignation	60.44±10.95
Self-accusation	53.29±12.61
Using negative coping	59.04±11.24

Notes:

* Not strictly classified as a positive or negative strategy; depending on the context of the situation and personality, it can acquire both of these qualities.

Abbreviation: SVF, Stressverarbeitungsfragebogen (Stress Coping Style Questionnaire).

Table 3 Correlations among coping strategies and demographic and clinical variables

Domain	Age	Onset	subjCGI	Marital status	Number of siblings
Underestimation	0.205*	0.18	−0.389***	0.217*	0.29**
Guilt denial	0.075	0.046	−0.153	0.08	0.209*
Diversion	−0.078	−0.101	−0.279**	−0.092	0.28**
Compensatory satisfaction	−0.112	−0.234*	−0.25*	−0.056	0.205
Reaction control	0.054	−0.021	−0.246*	0.063	0.247*
Positive self-instruction	0.038	−0.01	−0.39***	0.104	0.314**
Escape tendency	−0.007	−0.061	0.38***	−0.04	−0.007
Perseveration	−0.13	−0.253**	0.298**	−0.167	−0.073
Resignation	−0.07	−0.091	0.488***	−0.088	−0.102
Self-accusation	−0.021	−0.137	0.318**	−0.07	−0.091
Negative coping	−0.092	−0.189	0.436***	−0.12	−0.093
Positive coping	0.032	−0.04	−0.346**	0.06	0.302**

Notes:

* P<0.05;

** P<0.01;

*** P<0.001; Pearson and Spearman correlations.

Abbreviation: subjCGI, subjective (patient) evaluation of Clinical Global Impression.

Table 4 Correlations among self-stigma and demographic and clinical variables

Variables	Overall ISMI score	Alienation	Stereotype agreement	Perceived discrimination	Social withdrawal	Stigma resistance
Onset	−0.125	−0.188	−0.068	−0.274*	−0.092	0.087
Length	0.181 (P=0.06)	0.19*	0.163	0.188 (P=0.052)	0.163	0.048
Hospitalizations	0.121	0.143	0.011	0.277**	0.139	−0.091
objCGI	0.154	0.072	0.103	0.211*	0.136	0.149
subjCGI	0.52***	0.466***	0.475***	0.319***	0.482***	0.339***
objCGI – subjCGI	−0.374***	−0.375***	−0.338**	−0.209*	−0.363***	−0.138

Notes:

* P<0.05;

** P<0.01;

*** P<0.001; Pearson and Spearman correlations.

Abbreviations: ISMI, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness; objCGI, objective (clinician) evaluation of Clinical Global Impression; subjCGI, subjective (patient) evaluation of CGI.

Table 5 Correlations among self-stigma and coping strategies

Coping strategies	Whole score	Alienation	Stereotype agreement	Perceived discrimination	Social withdrawal	Stigma resistance
Underestimation	−0.424***	−0.397***	−0.3**	−0.282**	−0.459***	−0.219*
Guilt denial	−0.256**	−0.149	−0.317**	−0.152	−0.226*	−0.261**
Diversion	−0.365***	−0.31**	−0.336**	−0.254*	−0.276**	−0.363***
Compensatory satisfaction	−0.223*	−0.089	−0.233*	−0.132	−0.165	−0.294**
Situation control	−0.219*	−0.202*	−0.218*	−0.103	−0.133	−0.263**
Reaction control	−0.377***	−0.337***	−0.385***	−0.313**	−0.3**	−0.265**
Positive self-instruction	−0.555***	−0.464***	−0.521***	−0.322**	−0.447***	−0.468***
Positive coping	−0.491***	−0.399***	−0.464***	−0.315***	−0.406***	−0.431***
Escape tendency	0.434***	0.428***	0.271**	0.236*	0.375***	0.303**
Perseveration	0.436***	0.504***	0.281*	0.345***	0.456***	0.148
Resignation	0.637***	0.631***	0.485***	0.388***	0.57***	0.403***
Self-accusation	0.454***	0.494***	0.381***	0.266***	0.417***	0.194*
Negative coping	0.598***	0.632***	0.412***	0.386***	0.57***	0.28**

Notes:

* P<0.05;

** P<0.01;

*** P<0.001; Pearson correlations.

Table 6 First model of stepwise-regression analysis of ISMI and selected factors

Regressors	B	SE	β	Significance
Negative coping strategies	1.908	0.255	0.619	P<0.001
subjCGI	3.63	0.822	0.367	P<0.001
Positive coping strategies	−1.006	0.328	−0.247	P<0.01

Abbreviations: ISMI, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness; SE, standard error; subjCGI, subjective (patient) evaluation of Clinical Global Impression.

Table 7 Second model of stepwise-regression analysis of ISMI and selected factors

Regressors	B	SE	β	Significance
Positive self-instruction	7.34	3.927	0.631	P<0.001
objCGI	−23.818	5.242	0.384	P<0.01
objCGI – subjCGI	10.579	1.183	0.252	P<0.05

Abbreviations: ISMI, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness; SE, standard error; objCGI, objective (clinician) evaluation of Clinical Global Impression; subjCGI, subjective (patient) evaluation of Clinical Global Impression.