The effects of multiple categorization on perceptions of discrimination,life domains,and stress for individuals with severe mental illness

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide further understanding of the influence of multiple categorization on perceptions of discrimination in people with severe mental illness (SMI), including reasons they feel discriminated against (e.g. race) and in what context (e.g. employment). Multiple categorization is defined as simultaneously belonging to race (i.e. Black, White) and gender (i.e. male, female) groups. This paper addresses four questions: 1. How do four subgroups (i.e. Black males, Black females, White males, and White females) of individuals with SMI differentially perceive discrimination? 2.How do these subgroups differentially perceive discrimination as occurring due to various categorizations (i.e. mental disability/ability, race, and gender)? 3. How do these subgroups differentially perceive being discriminated against in life domains (i.e. employment, education, and housing)? 4. How do these subgroups differentially experience stress related to discrimination in life domains? Six hundred and four individuals with SMI participating in the baseline interview for a study on consumer operated services completed a four-part Discrimination Questionnaire. Analyses indicated multiple categorization (i.e. belonging to different subgroups such as White females) influences feeling discriminated against, attributions of discrimination to various categorizations, and stress related to discrimination in employment. However, findings did not indicate multiple categorization influences discrimination in employment.