The impact of internalized stigma on physical health indicators and health care utilization over a 3-year period.

Robyn Lewis Brown, Evan Batty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite an abundance of evidence that stigma is linked with worsening psychological and behavioral health—and less health care service utilization for these conditions—research on the relationship between stigma, physical health, and health care utilization is minimal. Using two waves of data from a community survey including a representative sample of individuals with chronic physical health conditions (N = 898), the current study found that internalized stigma was linked with declines in both self-rated physical health and physical functioning and greater physical pain over a 3-year period. Additionally, the associations of declining self-rated health and greater functional limitation with health care utilization were each moderated by the effects of internalized stigma. The clinical and translational science implications of these findings are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)143-150
Number of pages8
JournalStigma and Health
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Psychological Association

Keywords

  • health care service utilization
  • internalized stigma
  • physical health and functioning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Health Policy

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