The Role of Self-Stigma in Addiction Recovery: A Conceptual Psychological Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64882/ijrt.v14.i2.1635Keywords:
self-stigma, addiction recovery, substance use disorder, self-esteem, self-efficacy, recovery capitalAbstract
Self-stigma, the internalisation of society's negative stereotypes about addiction, is increasingly recognised as a psychological barrier that undermines recovery from substance use disorders. The present study examined the role of self-stigma in addiction recovery and proposed a conceptual psychological framework linking self-stigma to self-esteem, self-efficacy, and recovery capital. A descriptive-correlational survey design was employed with a purposive sample of 120 adults (84 men, 36 women) undergoing recovery in outpatient and residential de-addiction programmes. Participants completed the Self-Stigma of Addiction Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital. Data were analysed in SPSS (Version 26) using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson correlation, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc comparison, and multiple linear regression at the 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated a moderately high mean level of self-stigma (M = 61.40, SD = 12.80). Self-stigma correlated negatively and significantly with self-esteem (r = -.52), self-efficacy (r = -.47), and recovery capital (r = -.58, all p < .01). Participants with a history of relapse reported significantly higher self-stigma than those without relapse, t(118) = 3.49, p < .001, and self-stigma declined significantly with longer duration of recovery, F(2, 117) = 6.74, p = .002. Multiple regression showed that self-stigma, self-esteem, and self-efficacy jointly explained 46% of the variance in recovery capital, with self-stigma the strongest negative predictor (β = -.38, p < .001). The findings support a conceptual framework in which self-stigma erodes the self-evaluative resources that sustain recovery, and they underline the need for stigma-reduction and self-compassion interventions within addiction treatment.
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