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An online intervention using information on the mental health-mental illness continuum to reduce stigma.
- Source :
-
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists [Eur Psychiatry] 2016 Feb; Vol. 32, pp. 21-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Jan 21. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background: A core component of stigma is being set apart as a distinct, dichotomously different kind of person. We examine whether information on a continuum from mental health to mental illness reduces stigma.<br />Method: Online survey experiment in a quota sample matching the German population for age, gender and region (n=1679). Participants randomly received information on either (1) a continuum, (2) a strict dichotomy of mental health and mental illness, or (3) no information. We elicited continuity beliefs and stigma toward a person with schizophrenia or depression.<br />Results: The continuum intervention decreased perceived difference by 0.19 standard deviations (SD, P<0.001) and increased social acceptance by 0.18 SD (P=0.003) compared to the no-text condition. These effects were partially mediated by continuity beliefs (proportion mediated, 25% and 26%), which increased by 0.19 SD (P<0.001). The dichotomy intervention, in turn, decreased continuity beliefs and increased notions of difference, but did not affect social acceptance.<br />Conclusion: Attitudes towards a person with mental illness can be improved by providing information on a mental health-mental illness continuum.<br /> (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1778-3585
- Volume :
- 32
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26802980
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.11.006