The stigma of psychological problems in a work environment: Evidence from the screening of service members returning from Bosnia

The present research examined the stigma associated with psychological problems among service members returning from the United States peacekeeping mission to Bosnia. The results show that admitting a psychological problem in the military is perceived as much more stigmatizing than admitting a medical problem. Service members had more concerns about stigmatization and felt more uncomfortable discussing psychological problems than medical problems, and these feelings were magnified when service members were being screened with their units rather than alone. Service members also reported a lesser likelihood of following through with a psychological referral than with a medical referral. However, participants who discussed psychological issues with a therapist felt the screening was more beneficial than those who did not discuss their responses. The results address the neglected topic of the stigma associated with psychological problems in the workplace.