A cross-sectional survey of stigma towards people with a mental illness in the general public: The role of employment, domestic noise disturbance and age

S. C. C. Oudejans; M. E. Spits; J. Van Weeghel

doi:10.1007/s00127-021-02111-y

A cross-sectional survey of stigma towards people with a mental illness in the general public: The role of employment, domestic noise disturbance and age

S. C. C. Oudejans^*, M. E. Spits, J. Van Weeghel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Introduction
Stigmatization impedes the social integration of persons recovering from mental illnesses. Little is known about characteristics of the stigmatized person that lessen or aggravate public stigma.

Purpose
This study investigates which characteristics of persons with mental illnesses (i.e. with a depression or a psychotic disorder) might increase or decrease the likelihood of public stigma.

Methods
Over 2,000 adults read one of sixteen vignettes describing a person with a depressive disorder or a psychotic disorder and answered a set of items measuring social distance.

Results
The person who was employed (vs. unemployed), or whose neighbors did not experience domestic noise disturbance (vs. disturbance) elicited significantly less social distance. Also persons with a depressive disorder elicited less social distance, vs. persons with a psychotic disorder.

Conclusion
Employment and good housing circumstances may destigmatize persons coping with mental illnesses. Mental health and social services should encourage paid employment, quality housing and other paths to community integration.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1547-1554
Journal	Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume	56
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02111-y
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

STIGMA
Social Distance
Housing
EMPLOYMENT
AGE
Mental illness
Psychotic disorder
DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
mental health knowledge
CONTACT

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10.1007/s00127-021-02111-yLicence: CC BY

Tranzo van Weeghel mental illness in general public SPaPE 2021Final published version, 1.41 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "A cross-sectional survey of stigma towards people with a mental illness in the general public: The role of employment, domestic noise disturbance and age",

abstract = "IntroductionStigmatization impedes the social integration of persons recovering from mental illnesses. Little is known about characteristics of the stigmatized person that lessen or aggravate public stigma.PurposeThis study investigates which characteristics of persons with mental illnesses (i.e. with a depression or a psychotic disorder) might increase or decrease the likelihood of public stigma.MethodsOver 2,000 adults read one of sixteen vignettes describing a person with a depressive disorder or a psychotic disorder and answered a set of items measuring social distance.ResultsThe person who was employed (vs. unemployed), or whose neighbors did not experience domestic noise disturbance (vs. disturbance) elicited significantly less social distance. Also persons with a depressive disorder elicited less social distance, vs. persons with a psychotic disorder.ConclusionEmployment and good housing circumstances may destigmatize persons coping with mental illnesses. Mental health and social services should encourage paid employment, quality housing and other paths to community integration.",

keywords = "STIGMA, Social Distance, Housing, EMPLOYMENT, AGE, Mental illness, Psychotic disorder, DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, mental health knowledge, CONTACT",

author = "Oudejans, \{S. C. C.\} and Spits, \{M. E.\} and \{Van Weeghel\}, J.",

note = "The study was funded by the Phrenos center of expertise, Utrecht, the Netherlands.",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1007/s00127-021-02111-y",

language = "English",

volume = "56",

pages = "1547--1554",

journal = "Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology",

issn = "0933-7954",

publisher = "D. Steinkopff-Verlag",

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}

A cross-sectional survey of stigma towards people with a mental illness in the general public: The role of employment, domestic noise disturbance and age. / Oudejans, S. C. C.; Spits, M. E.; Van Weeghel, J.
In: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, Vol. 56, No. 9, 2021, p. 1547-1554.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - A cross-sectional survey of stigma towards people with a mental illness in the general public

T2 - The role of employment, domestic noise disturbance and age

AU - Oudejans, S. C. C.

AU - Spits, M. E.

AU - Van Weeghel, J.

N1 - The study was funded by the Phrenos center of expertise, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - IntroductionStigmatization impedes the social integration of persons recovering from mental illnesses. Little is known about characteristics of the stigmatized person that lessen or aggravate public stigma.PurposeThis study investigates which characteristics of persons with mental illnesses (i.e. with a depression or a psychotic disorder) might increase or decrease the likelihood of public stigma.MethodsOver 2,000 adults read one of sixteen vignettes describing a person with a depressive disorder or a psychotic disorder and answered a set of items measuring social distance.ResultsThe person who was employed (vs. unemployed), or whose neighbors did not experience domestic noise disturbance (vs. disturbance) elicited significantly less social distance. Also persons with a depressive disorder elicited less social distance, vs. persons with a psychotic disorder.ConclusionEmployment and good housing circumstances may destigmatize persons coping with mental illnesses. Mental health and social services should encourage paid employment, quality housing and other paths to community integration.

AB - IntroductionStigmatization impedes the social integration of persons recovering from mental illnesses. Little is known about characteristics of the stigmatized person that lessen or aggravate public stigma.PurposeThis study investigates which characteristics of persons with mental illnesses (i.e. with a depression or a psychotic disorder) might increase or decrease the likelihood of public stigma.MethodsOver 2,000 adults read one of sixteen vignettes describing a person with a depressive disorder or a psychotic disorder and answered a set of items measuring social distance.ResultsThe person who was employed (vs. unemployed), or whose neighbors did not experience domestic noise disturbance (vs. disturbance) elicited significantly less social distance. Also persons with a depressive disorder elicited less social distance, vs. persons with a psychotic disorder.ConclusionEmployment and good housing circumstances may destigmatize persons coping with mental illnesses. Mental health and social services should encourage paid employment, quality housing and other paths to community integration.

KW - STIGMA

KW - Social Distance

KW - Housing

KW - EMPLOYMENT

KW - AGE

KW - Mental illness

KW - Psychotic disorder

KW - DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

KW - mental health knowledge

KW - CONTACT

U2 - 10.1007/s00127-021-02111-y

DO - 10.1007/s00127-021-02111-y

M3 - Article

SN - 0933-7954

VL - 56

SP - 1547

EP - 1554

JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

IS - 9

ER -

A cross-sectional survey of stigma towards people with a mental illness in the general public: The role of employment, domestic noise disturbance and age

Abstract

Keywords

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