Factors that influence personal stigma towards, and desire for social distance from, a peer with depression in a British adolescent sample
Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background.Depression is a growing problem in Britain and is predicted to be the second leading global burden of disease by 2020.It can begin in adolescence and persist into adulthood.Although treatments for depression can be effective, stigma prevents many people seeking help. Understanding attitudes towards depression can help develop effective anti-stigma strategies.Aims.To investigate factors that are associated with personal stigma towards, and desire for social distance from, depression in a sample of British adolescents.The factors were: gender, age, recognition of depression from a description, familiarity with depression, and exposure to lessons or educational material about mental health.Help-seeking intentions were also explored. Method.Five hundred and eighty four adolescents aged 11 -18 years read a depression vignette and completed modified versions of the Personal Stigma Scale, the Social Distance Scale, and the Level of Contact Report.Group comparisons, correlations, and regression analyses were used.Data from the subset who recognised depression (N = 351) were analysed separately.Results.Overall, males and younger adolescents had more stigma and desire for social distance.Recognition of depression was associated with less stigma.Familiarity was associated with less stigma and less desire for social distance.Those who had seen material about mental health outside school had less stigma.There were no significant findings for help-seeking intentions.Effect sizes were small and overall the factors only accounted for a small amount of variance in the dependent variables.Stigma seemed similar but social distance higher than in adult studies.Conclusions.Future research should aim to develop more appropriate models of stigma and social distance for this population.Anti-stigma strategies should target this age-group and should focus on increasing familiarity with depression and reducing discriminatory behaviours.2002).Given this gap in the literature and the growing problem of depression, it seems important that adolescents' attitudes towards depression are investigated. Aims of the Present StudyThis study aims to add to the evidence by investigating a sample of British adolescents' attitudes towards depression.The two main aims are: i) to investigate the levels of stigma towards, and desire for social distance from, a description of a peer with depression; and ii) to investigate which factors have an impact on levels of stigma and desire for social distance.The factors investigated were chosen because they were found to influence attitudes in other populations.The factors were: gender, age, ability to recognise depression from a vignette, familiarity with depression, and exposure to mental health lessons or educational material.In addition to the two main aims, adolescents' willingness to seek help for depression was also explored. Chapter OverviewThe concepts of stigma and desire for social distance are explained and the attribution and labelling theories, and social psychological model, are discussed.Research on the public's attitudes towards mental illness is outlined.Factors known to impact on stigma and social distance are introduced.The reasons for focussing on the adolescent population are then given.In section 1.9, a literature review of adolescents' attitudes towards mental illness is presented.This highlights gaps in the literature.Section 1.10 narrows the focus by discussing the growing problem of depression and providing a rationale for investigating adolescents' attitudes towards depression.The research questions and hypotheses are stated in section 1.12.with and social distance from people who have serious mental illness.Psychiatric
Author: Jane Louise Emerton
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1506071684