Middle Eastern Americans: The Effects of Stigma on Attitudes Toward Counseling

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of self-stigma of mental illness on the relationship between perceived public stigma of mental illness and attitudes toward counseling. One hundred and two Middle Eastern Americans from universities across the United States participated in the study. Path analysis consisting of multiple regressions revealed that mediation was not met. However, results revealed that participants with greater levels of self-stigma exhibited more negative attitudes toward counseling. Implications for theory, practice, and research are discussed.