Anticipating Self-Stigma: The Roles of Values and Perceptions of Therapy Clients

The present study examined how similarities and differences between participants' prioritization of their own values and their perceptions of therapy clients' values predicted anticipated self-stigma of seeking psychological help. Undergraduates (N = 231) sorted the importance of 10 personal values for themselves and an imagined therapy client before completing an assessment of anticipated self-stigma of seeking psychological help. Polynomial regression analyses examined interaction effects between participants' own values and their perceptions of a hypothetical therapy client's values on anticipated help-seeking self-stigma. Self-stigma was predicted by the interaction between a person's own values of security and achievement and their perceptions of a therapy client's values of security and achievement. First, self-stigma was higher for those who prioritize achievement but view typical therapy clients as people who do not. Second, self-stigma was higher for those who prioritize security and also view typical therapy clients as people who also do. Therapy might be viewed as especially stigmatizing when it threatens concerns about future success or security.