Perceived stigma predicts low self-efficacy and poor coping in schizophrenia

Background: The stigma of mental illness has been shown to be a barrier to recovery in schizophrenia.Aims: The present study aimed to examine the influence of perceived stigma on self-efficacy and the coping styles of secrecy and withdrawal over and above selected sociodemographic and clinical variables and psychopathology.Method: Outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (N = 127) filled in measures of perceived stigma, secrecy and withdrawal as coping modi, positive and negative symptom severity, self-efficacy, depression and insight into psychosis.Results: Perceived stigma accounted for a significant amount of variance in secrecy and withdrawal, as well as low self-efficacy, over and above the amount of variance explained by positive and negative symptomatology, depression, insight, age and gender.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the negative influence of stigma perceived by persons with schizophrenia on self-efficacy and coping. Clinicians should offer guidance in functional coping with perceived stigma in order to reduce the effect of stigma on patients' lives.