Prevalence of Internalized Stigma and Associated Sociodemographic Factors among Adult Psychiatric Outpatients in Bomet County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58216/kjri.v16i3.822Keywords:
Keywords: Adult psychiatric outpatients; internalized stigma; Kenya; mental illness; sociodemographic factors.Abstract
Abstract
Background: Internalized stigma is a major barrier to recovery among people living with mental illness, contributing to poor treatment adherence, reduced self-esteem, social isolation, and impaired quality of life. Evidence among psychiatric outpatients in Kenya remains limited.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of internalized stigma and identify sociodemographic factors associated with internalized stigma among adult psychiatric outpatients attending AGC Tenwek Mission Hospital and Longisa County Referral Hospital in Bomet County, Kenya.
Methods: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 371 adult psychiatric outpatients between June and July 2026. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the 29-item Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-29) Scale and sociodemographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and stigma prevalence. Independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression were performed to identify factors associated with internalized stigma.
Results: The prevalence of high internalized stigma was 66.6%. Alienation had the highest mean score, followed by social withdrawal, stereotype endorsement, and discrimination experience, while stigma resistance had the lowest. Age, education level, and duration of mental illness were significantly associated with internalized stigma in bivariate analyses. After adjustment, age and education level remained independent predictors.
Conclusion: Internalized stigma was highly prevalent among psychiatric outpatients. Routine stigma screening and targeted psychosocial interventions should be integrated into outpatient mental health services to improve recovery outcomes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Atnafu Alemayehu, Jonathan Steen, Leon Gakuo
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