The Examination of the Relationships among Public Stigma, Locus of Control, Self Stigma, and Life Satisfaction

Öz

The fear of stigmatizon is a psychological and social situation that influences one’s life satisfaction (Buseh, Kelber, Hewitt, Stevens, & Park, 2006; Girma et al., 2013). Although it is known that the perception of stigmatization might affect the life satisfaction (Link, Struening, Rahav, Phelan ve Nuttbrock, 1997), little is known regarding the relationships between public stigma, locus of control, self stigma for receiving help, and life satisfaction. There are many factors that play role in the unwillingness to seek psychological help-seeking. Stigmatization, however; had a crucial role in the help-seeking intention (Mittal et al., 2013). It is still not known that how public stigma and self stigma for receiving help and locus of control important on life satisfaction. Therefore, it was aimed at determining the relationships among public stigma for receiving psychological help, locus of control, self stigma and life satisfaction. In addition, the mediating role of self stigma between public stigma, locus of control, and life satisfaction has been examined. To investigate the relationships a survey among 755 undergraduate students were conducted. Of those participated to the study, % 64.9 (490) was female and 35.1% (265) was male. Their age ranged between 18 and 23 (M = 20.35, SD = 1.21). Public Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help, Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale, Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used as the data collection instruments in the study. 25.4 % of the students were freshman, 39.7 % of them were sophomore, 21.2 % were junior and, 13.6% were senior. Firstly, fully mediated model was tested. The fit indexes of the fully mediated model were not satisfactory. Following the modification indexes, the model was rerun with adding a direct path between locus of control and life satisfaction. After rerunning the partial path model, the fit indexes were as follows: ( / df = 1.86, AGFI = .98, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .034, SRMR = .013). All direct and indirect paths in the model were examined and seen that all of them were significant. Bootstrap analysis was conducted to examine the contribution of the indirect paths to the model. The results showed that the direct path between locus of control and life satisfaction (std. β = -.13, p < .05) and indirect path through self stigma (std. β = -1.4, p =.004) was significant. Moreover, the path between public stigma and life satisfaction through  self stigma (std. β = -7.3, p = .002) was significant. The proposed model explained 5 % of the total variance. The results of the study demonstrated that the relationships between public stigma, locus of control and life satisfaction were mediated by self-stigma for seeking psychological help among university students. According to the results of the study, greater public stigma and locus of control related to greater self stigma, which in turn, resulted in decreased life satisfaction. Moreover, it was found that locus of control has direct effect on life satisfaction. Generally, the results of the study demonstrated that public stigma for receiving psychological help, locus of control, self stigma of receiving psychological help inversely related to life satisfaction. Specifically, it was found that public stigma and self stigma were negatively related to life satisfaction. People with external locus of control had lower level of life satisfaction. These results were similar to previous research findings (Buseh vd., 2006, Chirwa vd., 2009; Markowitz, 1998; Mashiach-Eizenberg vd., 2013). When the research results were evaluated in general, it was clearly seen that the findings regarding the relationships among public stigma for receiving psychological help, locus of control, self stigma of seeking psychological help and life satisfaction were so similar with the research studies conducted in the abroad. This similarity might have been stem from the fear of stigmatization that has been also experienced in the Turkish culture. Similarly, the research results including public stigma and self stigma of seeking psychological help demonstrated that Turkish people also experience fear of stigmatization (Topkaya, 2011a; Vogel et al., 2013). One of the limitations of the study was about not inferring the causality among the variables due to the cross-sectional design of the study. Various research designs can be utilized in order to obtain more information regarding the study variables in the future researches. Other variables that may have affect life satisfaction can be examined to understand the barriers related to help-seeking. Moreover, the relationships among public stigma for receiving psychological help, self stigma of seeking psychological help, depression, hope, and self-esteem can be examined. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Public Stigma for Receiving Psychological Help
• Locus of Control
• Self-Stigma of Seeking Psychological Help
• Life Satisfaction

Psikolojik Yardım Alma Nedeniyle Sosyal Damgalanma, Denetim Odağı, Kendini Damgalama ve Yaşam Doyumu Arasındaki İlişkiler

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı, psikolojik yardım alma nedeniyle sosyal damgalanma algısı, denetim odağı ve psikolojik yardım alma nedeniyle kendini damgalama ile yaşam doyumu arasındaki ilişkileri incelemektir. Araştırmaya gönüllü 755 (490 kadın, 265 erkek) üniversite öğrencisi katılmıştır. Katılımcıların yaşları 18 ile 23 (Ort = 20.35, SS = 1.21) arasında değişmektedir. Psikolojik Yardım Alma Nedeniyle Sosyal Damgalanma Ölçeği, Rotter İç-Dış Denetim Odağı Ölçeği, Psikolojik Yardım Alma Nedeniyle Kendini Damgalama Ölçeği ve Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği veri toplama araçları olarak kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları, psikolojik yardım alma nedeniyle sosyal damgalanma algısının ve denetim odağının psikolojik yardım alma nedeniyle kendini damgalama aracılığıyla yaşam doyumunu yordadığını göstermiştir. Ayrıca, denetim odağının yaşam doyumuyla doğrudan ilişkisinin anlamlı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bunun yanında araştırma sonuçları, kısmi aracılı yapısal modelin toplam varyansın % 5’ini açıkladığını ortaya koymuştur. Araştırma sonuçları literatür eşliğinde tartışılmış ve özellikle, psikolojik yardım alma nedeniyle kendini damgalamayı azaltmaya yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Psikolojik Yardım Alma Nedeniyle Sosyal Damgalanma
• Kendini Damgalama
• Denetim Odağı
• Yaşam Doyumu

Kaynakça

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