Relationship between internalized stigma, spiritual orientation and violence tendency in male criminals in a high-security forensic psychiatry unit

Purpose In forensic psychiatric communities, internalized stigma and interpersonal violence pose significant obstacles. It has been proposed that spiritual orientation may be a protective factor affecting psychological health and behavioral consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the connections between forensic psychiatric patients’ spiritual orientation, propensity for violence and internalized stigma. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional design was used. Participants consisted of forensic psychiatric patients diagnosed with severe mental disorders. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, the Violence Tendency Scale and the Spiritual Orientation Inventory were used to gather data. To assess the associations between the research variables, descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were performed. Findings Results showed that there was no statistically significant correlation between internalized stigma or a propensity for violence and spiritual tendency. Similarly, no significant association was found between violence tendency and internalized stigma scores. However, there was a strong negative correlation between educational attainment and violence inclination scores, meaning that those with less education had higher levels of violent tendency. Research limitations/implications These results imply that in forensic psychiatric populations, spiritual orientation may not have a direct impact on behavioral tendencies or attitudes associated with stigma. Rather, behavioral results may be more strongly influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, especially education level. To fully comprehend these intricate linkages, more studies using longitudinal methods and larger, more varied sample sizes are required. Practical implications The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing violent tendencies in forensic psychiatric settings may benefit from focusing on sociodemographic and rehabilitative factors, particularly educational support and structured psychosocial programs. Educational and skill-building interventions may help improve self-regulation, problem-solving abilities and social functioning among patients with lower educational attainment. While spiritual orientation may contribute to individual coping and meaning-making processes, it may not be sufficient on its own to influence behavioral outcomes such as violence or stigma in forensic populations. Therefore, treatment programs in high-security forensic psychiatric units should prioritize comprehensive rehabilitation approaches that include psychoeducation, social skills training and educational opportunities alongside routine psychiatric care. Originality/value This study contributes to the limited literature examining the relationships between spiritual orientation, internalized stigma and violence tendency in forensic psychiatric populations, highlighting the potentially greater role of educational level compared to spiritual orientation in influencing violent tendencies.