The association of recovery orientation and stigmatizing beliefs

Abstract

Background: Although mental health advocates and providers have promoted both recovery-oriented care and the de-stigmatization of mental illness, no studies have examined the interrelation of these two specific constructs.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate this association, with the hypothesis that stronger perception of programmatic recovery orientation would be associated with less stigmatizing beliefs towards mental illness.

Method: Veterans (N = 122) and mental health clinicians (N = 98) at a large Veterans Affairs Medical Center completed an assessment of recovery orientation and a measure of beliefs about mental illness.

Results: Stronger endorsement of programmatic recovery orientation was associated with less stigmatizing attitudes in both groups. Each of the five factors on the recovery measure was significantly and negatively associated with each of the four factors on the stigma measure.

Conclusions: Perspectives of recovery orientation and stigma are significantly, but negatively, associated. Future research should investigate the direction of causality behind these observed relationships, as this will provide the opportunity to identify potential interventions to increase recovery-oriented mental health care and reduce stigmatization.

Keywords: Mental illness; recovery; recovery-oriented; stigma.