Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Archive from 2022 July
    • Archive 1960 to 2022 June
    • Accepted Articles
    • Published Ahead-of-Print
    • Supplement
  • About
  • For Authors
  • Podcasts

Application of mental illness stigma theory to Chinese societies: synthesis and new direction

< Back to Listing

Share this Article

Singapore Med J 2007; 48(11): 977-985
Application of mental illness stigma theory to Chinese societies: synthesis and new direction

  • Abstract
  • PDF

Yang LH
Correspondence: Dr Lawrence Hsin Yang, laryang@attglobal.net

ABSTRACT
The rapidly-evolving literature concerning stigma towards psychiatric illnesses among Chinese groups has demonstrated pervasive negative attitudes and discriminatory treatment towards people with mental illness. However, a systematic integration of current stigma theories and empirical findings to examine how stigma processes may occur among Chinese ethnic groups has yet to be undertaken. This paper first introduces several major stigma models, and specifies how these models provide a theoretical basis as to how stigma broadly acts on individuals with schizophrenia through three main mechanisms: direct individual discrimination, internalisation of negative stereotypes, and structural discrimination. In Chinese societies, the particular manifestations of stigma associated with schizophrenia are shaped by cultural meanings embedded within Confucianism, the centrality of “face”, and pejorative aetiological beliefs of mental illnesses. These cultural meanings are reflected in severe and culturally-specific expressions of stigma in Chinese societies. Implications and directions to advance stigma research within Chinese cultural settings are provided.

Keywords: Chinese, culture, discrimination, mental illness, schizophrenia, stigma
Singapore Med J 2007; 48(11): 977–985

http://smj.org.sg/sites/default/files/4811/4811ra1.pdf
×

Around the Site

Home

About SMJ

For Reviewers

Sign Up for Alerts

Issues

Current Issue

All Issues

Online First

Supplement

CME

For Authors

Instructions for Authors

Submit Manuscript


Follow us on:
        

More Links

Contact Us

Copyright

Advertise

SMJ Forms

Privacy Policy

SMA Home

Copyright 2021. Singapore Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.