We use a perceptual control model of identity to examine the relationship between stigmatized appraisals (from self and other) and well-being among individuals with serious mental illness. We also examine the role of stigma resistance strategies in the identity process. Using in-depth interviews with active clients of a community mental health center (N = 156), we find that deflection, or distancing oneself from mental illness, is associated with greater self-esteem and fewer depressive symptoms. Challenging others through education is associated with higher self-esteem, and challenging stigma through activism is associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Activism also moderates the relationship between identity discrepancy (the difference between appraisals from self and other) and well-being; however, the extent to which activism is helpful or harmful depends on whether appraisals from others are more or less stigmatizing than self-views. We discuss the implications of these findings for identity and stigma research.

我们使用身份的知觉控制模型来检查污名化评估（来自自我和他人）与患有严重精神疾病的个体的幸福感之间的关系。我们还研究了耻辱抵抗策略在身份过程中的作用。通过对社区心理健康中心的活跃客户（N = 156）进行深入访谈，我们发现偏转或远离精神疾病与更高的自尊和更少的抑郁症状有关。通过教育挑战他人与更高的自尊相关，通过激进主义挑战耻辱与更少的抑郁症状相关。行动主义还调节了身份差异（自我与他人评价之间的差异）与幸福感之间的关系；然而，激进主义的有益或有害程度取决于他人的评价是否比自我观点更带有污名化。我们讨论了这些发现对身份和污名研究的影响。