• About
    • About
    • What is Public Interest Communications?
    • Our Team
    • Theories We Use
    • What We’ve Shared
    • Center Updates
    • Programs & Affiliates
      • frank gathering
      • The Research Prize in Public Interest Communications
      • Journal of Public Interest Communications
      • UF Programs
    • Contact Us
  • Our Services
    • Strategy Consulting
    • Issue Research
    • Training – Frameworks and Custom
  • Frameworks & Resources
  • Training
  • Case Studies
Center for Public Interest Communications
Support
  • About
    • About
    • What is Public Interest Communications?
    • Our Team
    • Theories We Use
    • What We’ve Shared
    • Center Updates
    • Programs & Affiliates
      • frank gathering
      • The Research Prize in Public Interest Communications
      • Journal of Public Interest Communications
      • UF Programs
    • Contact Us
  • Our Services
    • Strategy Consulting
    • Issue Research
    • Training – Frameworks and Custom
  • Frameworks & Resources
  • Training
  • Case Studies
  • Research & Insights

The Politics of Mental Illness

  • May 24, 2016
  • 2 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0

Mental illness is stigmatized in America, leaving many unwilling to seek treatment.

New research suggests that stigmatization is a political matter. People who are more conservative are more likely to hold negative attitudes toward people with mental illness. However, knowing someone with a mental illness can reduce stigmatization. These findings were published in the February 2016 issue of the International Journal of Social Psychiatry.

Researchers Joseph S. DeLuca and Philip T. Yanos surveyed 505 participants on their attitudes toward people with mental illness. Participants were asked how much they agreed with statements like, “I believe a person with mental illness is a danger to others” and “I believe a person with mental illness would improve if given treatment and support.” They were also asked about their willingness to have relationships with people with mental illness.

Participants then responded to questions on the right-wing authoritarian scale (RWA), a common tool designed to assess specific types of conservatism. Questions on the scale include: “This country would work a lot better if certain groups of troublemakers would just shut up and accept their group’s traditional place in society” and “What our country really needs is a strong, determined leader who will crush evil, and take us back to our true path.”

Participants who scored high in right-wing authoritarianism tended to stigmatize people with mental illness more. 

However, the researchers found that knowing someone with mental illness increased beliefs that people with mental illness could recover and willingness to interact with them in the future.

“The more positive interactions and portrayals of mental illness one is exposed to, the less chance of stigma. Previous research has shown that the relationship between [right-wing authoritarian attitudes] and stigma can decrease over time, especially if leaders and authority figures become less inclined to express prejudice openly,” suggest the researchers.

International Journal of Social Psychiatry 

Researchers:
Joseph S. DeLuca and Philip T. Yanos, City University of New York

 

0
0
0
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • frankology
Previous Article
  • Research & Insights

Moving Climate Change Skeptics to Believers

  • May 18, 2016
View Post
Next Article
  • Research & Insights

Psychology Helps Explain Why People Are Prejudiced

  • June 23, 2016
View Post
Think we can help with your goals? Read about our services and how we work.
Or reach out today to tell us a bit about your project and inquire how we might help.

 
 

Join our network

We'll send insights and opportunities when you least expect

More of our work
  • How We Are Making Sure The Science We Share Is Good
  • The Science of Belief: Identify Perceptions of Harm
  • Stop Raising Awareness Already
  • Illustration by Ailadi
    Communicating Complexity in the Humanitarian Sector
Latest from the Center
  • Teresa Gonzales and Nicole Bronzan
    Paper exploring local discursive frames of poverty and race wins 2023 research prize
  • Center welcomes two collaborators in research and strategy
  • 2023 Research Prize Finalists
    Center announces three finalists for the $10,000 public interest communications research prize
  • Rakeem Robinson
    Center honors the memory of colleague Rakeem Robinson
How We Help – Case Studies
  • hands with medicine
    Invest in Trust – a vaccine communications guide for CNAs
  • illustration
    Innovation Service of UNHCR: the UN Refugee Agency
  • gloved hand holding vial
    Science-based communication strategy on COVID for the UN Verified Initiative

Subscribe

Keep up with our latest; request our periodic newsletter.

UF Logo

Center for Public Interest Communications
PO Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-8400

An auxiliary unit of the College of Journalism and Communications

Copyright © 2022

Contact Us

We are eager to chat with you about your project or training need.

Send us a note

The Center for Public Interest Communications, the first of its kind in the nation, is designed to study, test and apply the science of strategic communication for social change. We are based at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.

  • Social Change Communication
  • Science Communication
  • Strategic Communication
  • Broader Impacts
  • Public Interest Communication
  • Narrative Change
  • Leadership Development
  • Strategy Development
  • Effective Presentations
  • Research Translation & Insights

Input your search keywords and press Enter.