selfstigmathe

Selfstigmathe is a term that appears in limited usage to describe the internalization of stigma by an individual. It is closely related to, and often synonymous with, self-stigma or internalized stigma, referring to the process by which people absorb and apply society’s negative attitudes toward a stigmatized attribute—such as mental illness, disability, or minority identity—to themselves.

Etymology and usage: The spelling selfstigmathe is not widely established in scholarly literature; more common terminology includes self-stigma and internalized stigma. The form may be encountered as a neologism or misspelling.

Mechanisms: The development of selfstigmathe involves exposure to discriminatory beliefs, anticipated stigma, social withdrawal, and cognitive bias (negative self-schemata). It can lead to self-blame, shame, reduced self-esteem, and lower self-efficacy.

Consequences: It is associated with poorer treatment engagement, delayed help-seeking, diminished quality of life, greater functional impairment, and increased risk of comorbid mental health problems.

Assessment and intervention: Researchers typically assess self-stigma using scales such as the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) or similar measures of internalized attitudes; regardless of naming, interventions often include psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral strategies, empowerment approaches, and peer support to reduce self-stigmatizing beliefs and improve coping.

See also: Self-stigma, Internalized stigma, Stigma (sociology), Mental health stigma.