Tricia H Witte1, Amber Wright1, Elizabeth Ashley Stinson2. 1. a Department of Human Development and Family Studies , College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Alabama , Tuscaloosa , Alabama , USA. 2. b Department of Psychology , College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama , Tuscaloosa , Alabama , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether certain misperceptions of substance use disorders (SUDs) would influence stigmatizing attitudes toward individuals who have SUDs. METHOD: Using a between-subjects design, 1059 young adults (77.2% women) read vignettes describing characters with high or low levels of the following factors: responsibility, controllability, immorality, willpower, consequences, and accountability. Participants then completed measures of stigma toward each character (i.e., affective reactions, negative judgments, and social distancing). RESULTS: Characters described as having low levels of accountability (i.e., denial), low levels of willpower, and severe consequences for their SUDs elicited higher levels of stigma compared to characters without these qualities. However, experimental manipulations of responsibility for one's SUD, controllability of one's SUD, and level of immorality associated with one's SUDs had no significant effect on stigmatizing attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important implications for educational programs aimed at reducing public stigma toward SUDs.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether certain misperceptions of substance use disorders (SUDs) would influence stigmatizing attitudes toward individuals who have SUDs. METHOD: Using a between-subjects design, 1059 young adults (77.2% women) read vignettes describing characters with high or low levels of the following factors: responsibility, controllability, immorality, willpower, consequences, and accountability. Participants then completed measures of stigma toward each character (i.e., affective reactions, negative judgments, and social distancing). RESULTS: Characters described as having low levels of accountability (i.e., denial), low levels of willpower, and severe consequences for their SUDs elicited higher levels of stigma compared to characters without these qualities. However, experimental manipulations of responsibility for one's SUD, controllability of one's SUD, and level of immorality associated with one's SUDs had no significant effect on stigmatizing attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important implications for educational programs aimed at reducing public stigma toward SUDs.
Entities:
Keywords:
Stigma; alcohol; drugs; substance use disorders
Authors: Sebastian Sattler; Farzaneh Zolala; Mohammad Reza Baneshi; Javad Ghasemi; Saber Amirzadeh Googhari Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-04-20
Authors: Angela T Hetrick; April M Young; Miriam R Elman; Sarann Bielavitz; Rhonda L Alexander; Morgan Brown; Elizabeth Needham Waddell; P Todd Korthuis; Kathryn E Lancaster Journal: Trials Date: 2021-12-20 Impact factor: 2.279