Table 2 Item-level statistics for the ISMI scale (n = 173)

Alienation

 I feel out of place in the world because I have a mental illness.

2.3

0.84

 I am embarrassed or ashamed that I have a mental illness.

2.3

0.87

 I feel inferior to others who don’t have a mental illness.

2.4

0.88

 I am disappointed in myself for having a mental illness.

2.3

0.90

 Having a mental illness has spoiled my life.

2.3

0.93

 People without mental illness could not possibly understand me.

2.4

0.89

Subscale mean

2.35

0.63

 Proportion above the midpoint of 2.5

43.1 %

Stereotype Endorsement

 Mentally ill people tend to be violent.

2.0

0.80

 Mentally ill people shouldn’t get married.

1.9

0.81

 People with mental illness cannot live a good, rewarding life.

2.1

0.85

 People can tell that I have a mental illness by the way I look.

2.1

0.83

 Because I have a mental illness, I need others to make most decisions for me.

2.0

0.75

 I can’t contribute anything to society because I have a mental illness.

2.2

0.78

 Stereotypes about the mentally ill apply to me.

2.4

0.83

Subscale mean

2.10

0.4

 Proportion above the midpoint of 2.5

29.7 %

Discrimination Experience

 People discriminate against me because I have a mental illness.

2.2

0.82

 People often patronize me, or treat me like a child, just because I have a mental illness.

2.2

0.79

 People ignore me or take me less seriously just because I have a mental illness.

2.3

0.82

 Nobody would be interested in getting close to me because I have a mental illness.

2.2

0.76

 Others think that I can’t achieve much in life because I have a mental illness.

2.4

0.84

Subscale mean

2.25

0.60

 Proportion above the midpoint of 2.5

34.7 %

Social Withdrawal

 I avoid getting close to people who don’t have a mental illness to avoid rejection.

1.9

0.73

 I don’t socialize as much as I used to because my mental illness might make me look or behave “weird”.

2.3

0.86

 I don’t talk about myself much because I don’t want to burden others with my mental illness.

2.5

0.85

 Negative stereotypes about mental illness keep me isolated from the “normal” world.

2.4

0.83

 Being around people who don’t have a mental illness makes me feel out of place or inadequate.

2.3

0.78

 I stay away from social situations in order to protect my family or friends from embarrassment.

2.2

0.78

Subscale mean

2.27

0.56

 Proportion above the midpoint of 2.5

37.8 %

Stigma Resistance (reverse-coded items)

 People with mental illness make important contributions to society.

2.8

0.80

 I feel comfortable being seen in public with an obviously mentally ill person.

3.1

0.71

 Living with mental illness has made me a tough survivor.

2.5

0.80

 In general, I am able to live my life the way I want to.

2.7

0.82

 I can have a good, fulfilling life, despite my mental illness.

2.7

0.83

Subscale mean

2.75

0.48

 Proportion above the midpoint of 2.5

63.5 %

Total scale mean

2.33

0.43

 Proportion above the midpoint of 2.5

40.8 %