The sense of coherence as a predictor of the scope and impact of stigma experiences among people with mental illness

Abstract

This study explored the role of the sense of coherence (SOC) in predicting the scope and impact of stigma experiences in 229 patients with schizophrenia or affective disorders. Findings revealed that SOC significantly predicted lower levels of stigma, accounting for 13% of the variance in stigma experiences and 4% of the variance in stigma impact, over and above that explained by background characteristics, diagnosis and the psychiatric symptoms of the participants.

Keywords: Mental illness; Sense of coherence; Stigma.