Who Stigmatizes More? Adolescents with Mental Disorders or Their Parents?

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the internalized stigmatization scores of adolescents and their parents who were followed up in the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic. Method: This study was consisted of 60 adolescents and 60 parents of children and adolescent who were followed in the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic between January and May 2019. Data were collected by using the information form, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISM1) and Parents Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (PISMI). In the analysis of the data, number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Mann- Whitney U test, Kruskal- Wallis Test and Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient were used in SPSS 25.0 program. Results: The mean ages of adolescents and their parents were 14.53 +/- 1.79 and 40.9 +/- 5.8, respectively. More than half (66.7%) of the parents were married, 83.3% were female and 35% were primary school graduates. 55% of adolescents were male and 63.3% were in the middle school. 35% of The adolescents were diagnosed as conduct disorder (35%), Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (28.3%) and mood disorders (22%). There was no significant difference between ISMI and PISMI total and subscale scores among adolescents and parents participating in the study (p>0.05). However, there was only statistically significant difference between the alienation subscale scores between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The internalized stigmatization scores of the adolescents and their parents were similar. Psychosocial interventions that aimed to decrease internalized stigmatization of adolescents and their parents may be suggested to increase the adherence of children and adolescents to treatment.