Gender Specificity of Self-Stigma, Public Stigma, and Help-Seeking Sources of Mental Disorders in Youths

Self-stigma and public stigma are major barriers to seeking help for mental health problems and they are sensitive to gender. This study investigated self-stigma and public stigma toward peers with mental disorders in a youth sample and evaluated gender differences in stigma scores. The sample consists of 1,113 youths (M = 16.96 years, SD = 1.88, 56% female) that were randomly assigned to a self-evaluation or a peer-evaluation condition using a vignette describing symptoms fulfilling Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 diagnostic criteria of one of five mental disorders (depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, substance abuse, and bulimia). Stigma was assessed using a questionnaire assessing eight emotional reactions and attitudes toward the protagonist in the vignette. Stigma scores were significantly higher in the self-evaluation condition (self-stigma) compared to the peer-evaluation condition (public stigma) in terms of a higher minimization of symptoms, higher blame for mental disorders, less pity, and (self) compassion. Results indicated that prior or current experience of psychotherapy and familiarity with people seeking psychotherapy were predictors for less blame for mental disorders for the peer-evaluation but not for the self-evaluation. Gender differences were found for public stigma, not for self-stigma. Interventions that aim to increase help-seeking intentions in youths might focus more on the reduction of self-stigma in addition to public stigma. Gender-sensitive approaches should be developed to achieve a decrease in self-stigma and public stigma especially in male youths.