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The public stigma of mental illness and drug addiction: findings from a stratified random sample
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., KUWABARA Sachiko A., O'SHAUGHNESSY John
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 9(2), April 2009, pp.139-147.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Previous research has shown that people labelled with drug addiction are viewed as more blameworthy and dangerous compared to individuals labelled with mental illness who, in turn, are viewed more harshly than those with physical disabilities. Endorsement of such stereotypes often lead to less helping behaviour and more avoidance of people with drug addiction compared to those with mental illness. In this study, attribution and dangerousness models are tested on a stratified random sample of the US population. The sample was recruited from a national online research panel (N = 815). Research participants read a vignette about a person with one of the three health conditions (mental illness, drug addiction, or physically handicapped in a wheelchair) and were asked to complete items representing attribution and dangerousness judgments about the person. Results found addiction to drugs was seen as more blameworthy and dangerous compared to mental illness.