Social Stigma Toward Individuals with Schizophrenia in a Lebanese Population

Background: Schizophrenia has been recognized as the most stigmatized mental disorder, imposing a substantial burden on affected individuals. However, no prior studies have investigated social stigma toward individuals with schizophrenia in Lebanon. Purpose: We aimed to examine three components of social stigma including knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward individuals with schizophrenia in a Lebanese population and to explore associated factors with the level of social stigma. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered, and data from 469 participants were gathered from January 31, 2023, to February 18, 2023. We used previously validated questionnaires to assess the knowledge, attitude (Social Distance Scale), and behavior (Reported and Intended Behavior Scale) of participants toward individuals with schizophrenia. The score for each section was calculated and used to explore the associations between sociodemographic factors and the levels of stigma in each domain. Results: The study participants had a moderate understanding of schizophrenia. However, a substantial proportion showed negative attitudes and unfavorable behaviors toward individuals with schizophrenia. We identified several sociodemographic factors associated with the knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores. Notably, a higher knowledge score and more positive attitudes were positively correlated with improved intended behaviors. Conclusion: This study highlights the pervasive stigma encompassing issues in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior surrounding schizophrenia in a Lebanese population. Our study suggests a pressing need for targeted interventions to increase public awareness and decrease the social stigma of schizophrenia in Lebanon.