Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 9 of 9
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.
The stigma of psychiatric disorders and the gender, ethnicity, and education of the perceiver
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., WATSON Amy C.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 43(5), October 2007, pp.439-458.
- Publisher:
- Springer
The purpose of this American study is to determine how the demographics of perceivers influence their stigma of people with mental illness or with substance abuse. A nationally representative sample (N = 968) was asked to respond to a vignette describing a person with a health condition (schizophrenia, drug dependence, or emphysema) and his/her family member. Consistent with the hypotheses, women were less likely to endorse stigma than men. Participants with higher education were also less likely to stigmatize than less educated participants. Contrary to our expectations, non-white research participants were more likely to endorse stigma than whites. Implications of these findings for better understanding the stigma of mental illness, and the development of anti-stigma programs, are reviewed.
Will filmed presentations of education and contact diminish mental illness stigma?
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 43(2), April 2007, pp.171-181.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study examines the impact of two versions of anti-stigma programs - education and contact -presented on videotape. A total of 244 people from a Chicago community college were randomly assigned to education or contact conditions and completed pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measures of stereotypes. Results suggest that the education videotape had limited effects, mostly showing improvement in responsibility (people with mental illness are not to blame for their symptoms and disabilities). Watching the contact videotaped showed significant improvement in pity, empowerment, coercion, and segregation. Contact effects were evident at post-test and 1 week follow-up. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
What is the impact of self-stigma? loss of self-respect and the “why try” effect
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(1), 2016, pp.10-15.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: The “Why Try” phenomenon, a consequence of self-stigma, is a sense of futility that occurs when people believe they are unworthy or incapable of achieving personal goals because they apply the stereotypes of mental illness to themselves. Aims: This study examines a four-stage model of self-stigma (aware, agree, apply, and self-stigma harm) and examines the “why try” effect as a result. We do that by testing a measure of “why try.” Method: Two hypothetical path models were tested. In the first, applying stereotypes to oneself leads to diminished self-respect and a sense of “why try”. In the second, the effect of applying stereotypes on “why try” is mediated by diminished self-respect. Participants completed the “why try” measure along with measures of self-stigma, public stigma, recovery, and empowerment. Results: Results show application of stereotypes to oneself predicts diminished self-respect and “why try”. “Why try” was significantly associated with agreement with public stigma, depression, and diminished sense of personal recovery. Conclusions: Findings from this study reveal the complex impact of self-stigma demonstrating its emotional and behavioural consequences. Implications for impacting self-stigma are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Changing stigmatizing perceptions and recollections about mental illness: the effects of NAMI’s In Our Own Voice
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 46(5), October 2010, pp.517-522.
- Publisher:
- Springer
In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a 90-min anti-stigma video that comprises face-to-face stories of challenges of mental illness and hopes and dreams commensurate with recovery. The video was reduced to a 30-min version, using information from two focus groups. This study contrasts the effects of 90- versus 30-min IOOV program against 30 min of education. Two hundred research participants were randomly assigned to one of these three conditions and completed a measure of stigmatizing perceptions and recollections. People in the education group remembered more negatives than the two IOOV groups. To control for overall response rate, a difference ratio was determined (difference in positive and negative recollection divided by overall recollections). Results showed the two IOOV conditions had significantly better ratios than education. These findings suggest the 30 min version of IOOV is as effective as the 90 min standard.
DSM-V and the stigma of mental illness
- Authors:
- BEN-ZEEV Dror, YOUNG Michael A., CORRIGAN Patrick W.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 19(4), August 2010, pp.318-327.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The relationship between diagnostic labels and stigma is examined in the context of the forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Three types of negative outcome are considered in detail: public stigma, the phenomenon of large social groups endorsing stereotypes about, and subsequently acting against a stigmatised group; self stigma, the loss of self-esteem and self-efficacy that occurs when people internalise public stigma; and label avoidance, when sufferers do not seek out or participate in mental health services in order to avoid the impact of a stigmatised label. The authors illustrate how a clinical diagnosis may exacerbate these forms of stigma through socio-cognitive processes of groupness, homogeneity and stability. Initial draft revisions recently proposed by the DSM-V work groups are briefly discussed from the framework of mental illness stigma. The authors believe that the initial drafts of DSM-V show a trend of greater transparency and movement toward more dimensional approaches to diagnosis which may help reduce stigma in the future, but also include several proposals that may have a negative impact on stigma.
Stigmatizing attitudes about mental illness and allocation of resources to mental health services
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 40(4), August 2004, pp.297-307.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study tests a social psychological model stating that policy maker decisions regarding the allocation of resources to mental health services are influenced by their attitudes towards people with mental illness and treatment efficacy. Fifty four individuals participated in a larger study of education about mental health stigma. Participants completed various measures of resource allocation preferences for mandated treatment and rehabilitation services, attributions about people with mental illness, and factors that influence allocation preferences including perceived treatment efficacy. Results showed significant attitudinal correlates with resource allocation preferences for mandated treatment, but no correlates to rehabilitation services. In particular, people who pity people with mental illness as well as those that endorse coercive and segregated treatments, were more likely to rate resource allocation to mandated care as important. Perceived treatment efficacy was also positively associated with resource allocation preferences for mandated treatment. A separate behavioral measure that involved donating money to NAMI was found to be inversely associated with blaming people for their mental illness and not being willing to help them. Implications of these findings on strategies that seek to increase resources for mental health programmes are discussed.
Shame, blame, and contamination: A review of the impact of mental illness stigma on family members
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., MILLER Frederick E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(6), December 2004, pp.537-548.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
In his classic text, Goffman defined courtesy stigma as the negative impact that results from association with a person who is marked by a stigma. Family members of relatives with mental illness are frequently harmed by this kind of stigma. Using a social cognitive model of mental illness stigma, the authors review ways in which various family roles (e.g., parents, siblings, spouses) are impacted by family stigma. The authors distinguish between public stigma (the impact wrought by subsets of the general population that prejudge and discriminate against family members) and vicarious stigma (suffering the stigma experienced by relatives with mental illness). Results of our review suggest parents are blamed for causing their child's mental illness, siblings and spouses are blamed for not assuring that relatives with mental illness adhere to treatment plans, and children are fearful of being contaminated by the mental illness of their father or mother. The current body of literature suggests several important directions for future research including identification of stereotypes in addition to shame, blame, and contamination that harm family members; developing rigorous research methods that validate the link between stigmatizing attitudes and discriminatory behaviours; and testing programs that help to erase the various manifestations of family stigma.
Stigma and disclosure: Implications for coming out of the closet
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., MATTHEWS Alicia K.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 12(3), June 2003, pp.235-248.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
There are costs and benefits for people with psychiatric disorders to decide to disclose publicly these disorders. The gay and lesbian community has struggled with the same tension and their discoveries about coming out may prove useful for the disclosure concerns of persons with mental illness. Lessons learned about coming out by the gay and lesbian community include a variety of models that map the stages for successfully coming out; e.g., identity confusion, comparison, identify acceptance, immersion, and identity synthesis. Navigating these stages requires consideration of the costs and benefits of disclosure; we review some of these including social avoidance and disapproval as key costs and improved psychological well-being and interpersonal relations as benefits. The paper ends with a review of levels of disclosure for people who opt to come out.