Are mental illnesses stigmatized for the same reasons? Identifying the stigma-related beliefs underlying common mental illnesses. (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krendl, Anne C.; Freeman, Jonathan B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of mental health. Volume 28:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: Controllability -- schizophrenia -- depression -- mental health stigma -- reverse correlation; Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health services -- Periodicals; 362.2
• DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2017.1385734
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8237

Abstract

Abstract: Background : Although mental health stigmatization has myriad pernicious consequences, it remains unknown whether mental disorders are stigmatized for the same reasons. Aims : This study identified the stigma-related beliefs that were associated with several common mental illnesses (Study 1), and the extent to which those beliefs predicted stigmatization (Study 2). Methods : In Study 1, we used multidimensional scaling to identify the stigma-related beliefs attributed to nine common mental disorders (e.g. depression, schizophrenia). Study 2 explored whether beliefs commonly associated with depression predicted its stigmatization. Results : In Study 1, we found that the nine mental illnesses differed from each other on two dimensions: social desirability and controllability. In Study 2, we found that regardless of participants' own depression status, their perceptions that depression is controllable predicted depression-related stigmatization. Conclusions : Our results suggest that stigmatization toward different mental illnesses stem from combinations of different stigmatized beliefs.