Self-stigma as a mediator between social capital and empowerment among people with major depressive disorder in Europe : the ASPEN study

Lanfredi, M and Zoppei, S and Ferrari, C and Bonetto, C and Van Bortel, T and Thornicroft, G and Knifton, L and Quinn, N and Rossi, G and Lasalvia, A, The ASPEN Study group (2015) Self-stigma as a mediator between social capital and empowerment among people with major depressive disorder in Europe : the ASPEN study. European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 30 (1). pp. 58-64. ISSN 0924-9338 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.06.002)

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Abstract

Individual social capital has been recognized as having an important role for health and well-being. We tested the hypothesis that poor social capital increases internalized stigma and, in turn, can reduce empowerment among people with major depressive disorder (MDD).  This is a cross-sectional multisite study conducted on a sample of 516 people with MDD in 19 European countries. Structural Equation Models were developed to examine the direct and indirect effects of self-stigma and social capital on empowerment.  Social capital and self-stigma accounted for 56% of the variability in empowerment. Higher social capital was related to lower self-stigma (r=-0.72, P<0.001) which, in turn, partially mediated the relationship between social capital and empowerment (r=0.38, P<0.001).  Social capital plays a key role in the appraisal of empowerment, both directly and through the indirect effect mediated by self-stigma. In order to improve empowerment of people with MDD, we identify strategies to foster individual social capital, and to overcome the negative consequences related to self-stigma for attainment of life goals.

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