Title

Should College Students Disclose Their Mental Illness to Decrease Stigma?

Authors

Patrick Corrigan, Illinois Institute of Technology
Kristin Kosyluk, University of Texas at El Paso
Fred Markowitz, Northern Illinois University
Robyn Brown Lewis, DePaul University
Bridget Conlon, University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Joanne Rees, Long Island University
Jessica Rosenberg, Long Island University
Sarah Ellefson, Illinois Institute of Technology
Maya Al-Khouja, Illinois Institute of Technology

Publication Date

11-26-2015

Document Type

Article

Comments

Patrick W. Corrigan, Kristin A. Kosyluk, Fred Markowitz, Robyn Lewis Brown, Bridget Conlon, Jo Rees, Jessica Rosenberg, Sarah Ellefson & Maya Al-Khouja(2016) Mental illness stigma and disclosure in college students, Journal of Mental Health, 25:3, 224-230, DOI: 10.3109/09638237.2015.1101056

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mental illness identity, shame, secrecy, public stigma, and disclosure amongst college students. Participants included 1393 college students from five postsecondary institutions.

Methods: Structural equation modeling was used to examine two path models predicting disclosure and desire to join a program aiding with disclosure.

Results: Variables found to be significant in predicting disclosure included mental illness identity and public stigma. In turn, desire for disclosure predicted desire to join a program aiding in disclosure. Gender and race/ethnic differences were observed, with men and Whites more likely to want to disclose a mental illness or join a program aiding with disclosure compared with women and non-Whites, respectively.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that some college students may find programs aiding in disclosure useful in assisting them to achieve their desire to be “out” with their mental illness.