Barriers to and Facilitators of the Acceptance Process for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness
Abstract
The process of acceptance of mental illness is a central component of recovery and has been linked to functioning, illness management, and quality of life. A number of barriers and facilitators have been theorized as impacting this process. This study was conducted with 30 participants with serious mental illness (a major psychiatric disorder with impairment in multiple areas of functioning) to elicit the barriers to and facilitators of the acceptance of mental illness. Grounded theory methodology was utilized to analyze the 30 semistructured interviews. Results revealed barriers to and facilitators of acceptance of mental illness at the micro level (cognitive, emotional, behavioral, identity-related), meso level (relational), and macro level (cultural, systemic). Clinical and research implications are discussed with regard to facilitating acceptance of mental illness.
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Biographies
Lauren Mizock, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Worcester State University, Worcester, Massachusetts, and an adjunct assistant professor at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Zlatka Russinova, PhD, is a senior research associate in the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Uma Chandrika Millner, PhD, is a research associate at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Article first published online: August 4, 2014
Issue published: September 2014
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Published online: August 4, 2014
Issue published: September 2014
PubMed: 25091512
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