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The Stigma of a Mental Illness Label: Attitudes Towards Individuals with Mental Illness

Ikeme, Chinenye
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1335613307

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, Psychology, Clinical.
The present study examined whether stigma toward individuals with mental illness will evidence itself in job performance evaluations. To enhance this potential effect of mental illness stigma, an additional “difference” of race was included as a factor that may affect perception of functioning and attitude towards the individual with a mental illness diagnosis. Additionally, general professed attitudes towards mental illness and direct attitudes when one is exposed to an individual with a mental illness diagnosis were considered. Participants were drawn from the undergraduate population of a midsize private university and responded to three questionnaires after viewing a video clip of an individual experiencing a moderately stressful day at work. Half the participants were given the information that the individual they viewed was undergoing treatment for a mental illness, and the other half were not given this information. Some of the participants viewed an actor of the same race, while the others viewed an actor of a different race. Data were analyzed by condition and race. The results of this study did not support the hypotheses. Contrary to expectations, information that the actor had been diagnosed with a mental illness did not influence job ratings or attitudes toward mental illness. Similarly, results indicated that participants' evaluations were not affected by similarities and differences in the races of the observed and the observer. Finally, attitudes to mental illness generally did predict participants' direct attitudes toward an individual who was presented as having a mental illness. Prior contact and experience with individuals with mental illness did not moderate these results. Possible explanations for the outcome of the study are discussed.
Carolyn Phelps, PhD (Committee Chair)
Lee Dixon, PhD (Committee Member)
Matthew Montoya, PhD (Committee Member)
69 p.
Behavioral Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Psychology; Social Psychology
Mental illness; attitudes to mental illness; stigma of mental illness; mental illness discrimination; racial differences and mental illness; racial differences in job ratings; effects of mental illness diagnoses; job ratings of people with mental illness

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ikeme, C. (2012). The Stigma of a Mental Illness Label: Attitudes Towards Individuals with Mental Illness [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1335613307

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ikeme, Chinenye. The Stigma of a Mental Illness Label: Attitudes Towards Individuals with Mental Illness. 2012. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1335613307.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ikeme, Chinenye. "The Stigma of a Mental Illness Label: Attitudes Towards Individuals with Mental Illness." Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1335613307

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

dayton1335613307
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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.