Military self-stigma: A scoping review

Due to the inherent nature of their duties, military personnel are consistently exposed to high levels of stress and traumatic events, rendering them structurally vulnerable to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety (Vogt et al., 2023). Despite the severity of these conditions, the utilization rate of mental health services among those in need remains significantly low (Sharp et al., 2022). A primary barrier to seeking help is "public stigma," characterized by fears of career repercussions and negative perceptions from peers (Ben-Zeev et al., 2021). Recent nursing scholarship, however, has increasingly focused on "self-stigma"—the internalization of social prejudices leading to negative self-evaluation—noting its more destructive impact on psychological well-being and help-seeking intentions (Corrigan et al., 2024). In the military context, self-stigma often intersects with a culture of "warrior ethos" and "military masculinity," causing mental vulnerability to be perceived as personal incompetence or weakness (Sayer et al., 2022). This process triggers a vicious cycle: eroding self-esteem, fostering social isolation, and ultimately exacerbating symptoms through the avoidance of treatment (Highland et al., 2021). While research on self-stigma among military personnel has been ongoing, most studies are limited to specific disorders (Collie et al., 2025). Furthermore, inconsistent conceptual definitions and measurement tools have led to a lack of integrated evidence necessary for establishing practical intervention strategies (O’Connor et al., 2025). Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively analyze the current landscape of research on military self-stigma to provide foundational data for developing mental health promotion programs and policy frameworks.