Internalized Stigmatization, Social Support, and Individual Mental Health Problems in the Public Health Crisis

Jiannan Li, Wenqi Liang, Bocong Yuan and Guojun Zeng
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Jiannan Li: International School of Business & Finance, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Wenqi Liang: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Bocong Yuan: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Guojun Zeng: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between internalized stigmatization brought on by epicenter travel experiences and mental health problems (including anxiety, depression, and shame) during the period of the novel coronavirus disease emergency in China. The cross-sectional data were collected using the time-lag design to avoid the common method bias as much as possible. Regression results using structural equation modeling show that the internalized stigmatization of epicenter travel experiences may have positive relationships with mental health problems (i.e., anxiety, depression, and shame), and such relationships can be moderated by social support. Specifically, the positive relationships between internalized stigmatization and mental health problems are buffered/strengthened when social support is at a high/low level. The findings of this study suggest that, in this epidemic, people who have epicenter travel experience could be affected by internalized stigmatization, no matter whether they have ever got infected.

Keywords: internalized stigmatization; social support; mental health problems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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