Stigma sentiments and self-meanings: Exploring the modified labeling theory of mental illness. Social Psychology Quarterly

Although psychiatric treatment pro-grams can reduce patients ’ symptoms dra-matically (Link et al. 1997; Rosenfield 1997), the official labeling that accompanies this treatment can affect individuals negatively. Numerous studies over the past two decades suggest that when individuals are officially recognized to have a mental illness, they are placed into a cultural category (e.g., “a men-tally ill person”) that damages their material, social, and psychological well-being (e.g., Link 1987; Link et al. 1989; Markowitz 1998; Rosenfield 1997). For example, when persons who have been treated for a mental illness are compared with others who have not been treated but suffer similar psychiatric prob-lems, the treated (i.e., labeled) group shows a higher unemployment rate, lower earnings, and greater feelings of demoralization (Lin