Relations of perceiving self-stigma in women: the role of depressive and anxiety symptoms and pregnancy

Abstract

The explanation of the implications of self-stigma as reasons for rejecting treatment are necessary to understand why some individuals refrain from seeking psychological health for depressive and / or anxiety symptoms. These symptoms were presumed moderating factors on the perception of self-stigma in a sample of pregnant and non-pregnant women because research provided evidence for correlations between emotional problems, such as depressive and anxiety symptoms, and self-stigma for seeking help. It was hypothesized that the effect of pregnancy and not being pregnant on perceiving self-stigma was moderated by depressive and anxiety symptoms. Multiple linear regression analysis to predict self-stigma (outcome) from pregnancy (predictor) considering depressive and anxiety symptoms (moderators) was statistically not significant. Results indicated that women were likely to not be concerned about self-stigmatizing attitudes and that depressive and/ or anxiety symptoms did not negatively affect their attitude to seek help for mental health. A trend revealed that pregnancy tended to have a reducing influence on the perception of self-stigma. This finding was promising to implement tailored psychological help in order to encounter the adverse impact of emotional problems in pregnant women and their offspring. The claim was supported to screen pregnant women for depressive symptoms in order to offer timely treatment. Future research should consider the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and action taking efforts for seeking psychological help.