Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale – Chinese Version

Description

Stigma refers to the negative labels that people attach to someone, perceiving that individual as having a moral or behavioral defect, leading to their devaluation, exclusion, and avoidance. Mental illness stigma is a specific type of stigma that involves the devaluation and exclusion of individuals with mental health issues. This stigma can significantly impact the attitudes of individuals with mental health conditions towards seeking help (Corrigan, 2004). Stigma comprises multiple dimensions, with Corrigan (1999) identifying two independent types: public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma refers to the social exclusion held by others against those being stigmatized, whereas self-stigma refers to the sense of being excluded by societal groups that the stigmatized individual perceives. This perception can lower self-esteem or self-worth, thus hindering the pursuit of mental health support.

It is generally accepted that stigma consists of three components: stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. In this context, public stigma differs from self-stigma; public stigma is characterized by stereotypes directed at specific social groups, leading to negative emotional experiences and discriminatory behaviors such as avoidance. In contrast, self-stigma is directed at oneself, leading to negative biases and a reluctance to seek professional help, often accompanied by feelings of shame. Stigma can adversely affect the cognitive, emotional, personality, and social functioning aspects of those stigmatized.

Research both internationally and domestically shows that public stigma can negatively impact the lives of the stigmatized, resulting in reduced opportunities for living, employment, housing, marriage, and social interactions. Public stigma not only leads individuals to hesitate to seek professional psychological help but also affects their family and friends, who may experience secondary stigma. Phelan’s research indicated that 25% of individuals were distanced by others due to their association with someone with mental illness. When the stigmatized internalize public stigma, self-stigma arises, negatively impacting self-awareness and often resulting in avoidance behaviors, secrecy, and confidentiality. Corrigan et al. found that higher levels of self-stigma among patients were associated with increased feelings of frustration, shame, and loss of face, with low self-esteem and low self-efficacy being the most pronounced. Quiroga discovered that self-stigma led to negative coping strategies and adversely affected social functioning and social support systems. Furthermore, cultural factors such as the traditional ideas of “saving face” and not airing “family shame” can hinder help-seeking behaviors.

Authors and Contact Email

Authors: Zuo Bin, Ai Chuan Guo
Contact Email: information not available

Purpose

Information not available

Test Year

Information not available

Administration Method and Scoring

The Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale (SSOSH) (Rtisch et al., 2005), revised by Zuo Bin and Ai Chuan Guo based on Vogel et al.’s original scale, contains 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating higher levels of self-stigma.

Reliability and Validity

The internal consistency coefficient ranges between 0.86 and 0.90 and shows good structural validity.

Factors and Subscales

Information not available

Keywords

Mental illness, stigma, public stigma, self-stigma, help-seeking behavior

Items in Chinese

1. 我会认为因为心理问题而寻求专业心理求助这种行为不妥
2. 寻求专业帮助并不会影响我的自信
3. 寻求专业心理帮助（如去看心理咨询师）会让我觉得自己不够聪明
4. 通过跟心理咨询师或治疗师交谈可以提高自己的自尊心
5. 我并不会因为选择去看心理治疗师而改变对自己的看法
6. 去向心理治疗师寻求帮助会让我感到自卑
7. 如果遇到解决不了的心理问题，我会做出寻求专业心理帮助的选择
8. 如果我去看心理咨询师的话，我会对自己不那么满意
9. 如果自己遇到解决不了的心理问题而寻求专业心理帮助的话，我会像之前一样自信
10. 如果我解决不了自己的问题，我会觉得自己很糟糕

Items in English

1. I would think that seeking professional psychological help due to mental health issues is inappropriate.
2. Seeking professional help will not affect my confidence.
3. Seeking professional psychological help (such as seeing a psychological counselor) makes me feel less smart.
4. Talking to a psychological counselor or therapist can boost my self-esteem.
5. Choosing to see a psychological therapist will not change my view of myself.
6. Seeking help from a psychological therapist will make me feel inferior.
7. If I encounter mental health issues that I cannot resolve, I would opt to seek professional psychological help.
8. If I see a psychological counselor, I would be less satisfied with myself.
9. If I seek professional psychological help for an issue I cannot resolve, I would feel just as confident as before.
10. If I cannot solve my problems, I would feel terrible about myself.

References

佐斌, 艾传国. 群体认同,自尊和心理疾病污名的关系[J]. 应用心理学, 2011, 17(4):5.
宋冠群. 心理疾病污名与社交网站中自我呈现的关系:自尊的中介作用[D]. 四川师范大学.