G Schomerus1, M C Angermeyer2, S E Baumeister3, S Stolzenburg4, B G Link5, J C Phelan6. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany; Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany. Electronic address: georg.schomerus@uni-greifswald.de. 2. Center for Public Mental Health, Gösing, Austria; Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 3. Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Institute for Community Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany; Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany. 5. Columbia University, New York, USA; University of California, Riverside, USA. 6. Columbia University, New York, USA.
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. 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. 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. CONCLUSION: Attitudes towards a person with mental illness can be improved by providing information on a mental health-mental illness continuum.
RCT Entities:
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. 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. 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. CONCLUSION: Attitudes towards a person with mental illness can be improved by providing information on a mental health-mental illness continuum.
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