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Exploring stigmatisation among people diagnosed with either bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder: A critical realist analysis

Bonnington, Oliver; Rose, Diana

Authors

Oliver Bonnington

Diana Rose



Abstract

This study explores experiences of stigma and discrimination amongst people diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD). Inspired by Margaret Archer's morphogenetic sequence and the ontological depth of critical realism, a temporal framework for stigmatisation, incorporating structure and agency, is developed and used to situate these experiences. A literature review found very little existing research on the subjective experience of stigma amongst these diagnostic groups. Indeed, most mental illness stigma research is quantitative and focussed on schizophrenia and depression. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-nine people diagnosed with BD or BPD, along with five 'friendship' mini-focus groups within the UK. Participants were recruited via charities and participant networking. Using thematic analysis, along with abductive and retroductive inference, experiences and anticipation of stigma and discrimination for participants with one of the two diagnoses in various contexts of social interaction were found to coincide with 'four faces' of oppression: cultural imperialism (pathologisation, normalisation and stereotyping), powerlessness, marginalisation and violence. Such experiences implied a range of antecedent social and cultural structures. Implications for the stigma concept are discussed.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 24, 2014
Online Publication Date Oct 25, 2014
Publication Date Dec 1, 2014
Deposit Date Sep 11, 2023
Journal Social Science and Medicine
Print ISSN 0277-9536
Electronic ISSN 0277-9536
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 123
Pages 7-17
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.10.048
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11094370