IMPACT OF INTERNALIZED STIGMA ON SOCIAL PHOBIA IN PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS: MODERATING ROLE OF WORK AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT

Abstract

Severe mental illness is hard to confront in the first place, but the stigma associated with it can be a trigger and even make other health issues worse. Determining the current prevalence of internalized stigma among schizophrenic patients and investigating whether social phobia is a result of internalized stigma were the main objectives of this study. The study looked at how job and social adjustment affected the connection between social phobia and internalized stigma in psychotic patients. Data were collected from a sample size of one hundred (n=100) participants using a correlational research approach. Using the Lorentz formula, which is frequently used to derive sample sizes from the entire population, the predetermined sample size was established. In the Peshawar region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, data was collected using the Simple Random sample methodology. The Liebowitz social anxiety measure (Liebowitz, 1987), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (Mundt et. al, 2002), and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (Ritsher et. al, 2003) were employed by the researchers. The findings showed that people who are psychotic are more likely to have internalized stigma. For those suffering from psychosis, internalized stigma is a reliable indicator of social anxiety. Work and social adjustment also play a major role in the link between internalized stigma and social phobia. Furthermore, these current results mandate that further research studies be conducted to properly highlight and tackle the problem.