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The "backbone" of stigma: Identifying the Global core of public prejudice associated with mental illness

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  • Pescosolido, B.A.
  • Medina, T.R.
  • Martin, J.K.
  • Long, J.S.

Abstract

Objectives: We used the Stigma in Global Context-Mental Health Study to assess the core sentiments that represent consistent, salient public health intervention targets. Methods: Data from 16 countries employed a nationally representative sampling strategy, international collaboration for instrument development, and case vignettes with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition depression and schizophrenia criteria. We measured knowledge and prejudice with existing questions and scales, and employed exploratory data analysis to examine the public response to 43 items. Results: Across countries, levels of recognition, acceptance of neurobiological attributions, and treatment endorsement were high. However, a core of 5 prejudice items was consistently high, even in countries with low overall stigma levels. The levels were generally lower for depression than schizophrenia, and exclusionary sentiments for more intimate venues and in authority-based roles showed the greatest stigma. Negative responses to schizophrenia and depression were highly correlated across countries. Conclusions: These results challenge researchers to reconfigure measurement strategies and policymakers to reconsider efforts to improve population mental health. Efforts should prioritize inclusion, integration, and competences for the reduction of cultural barriers to recognition, response, and recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Pescosolido, B.A. & Medina, T.R. & Martin, J.K. & Long, J.S., 2013. "The "backbone" of stigma: Identifying the Global core of public prejudice associated with mental illness," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(5), pages 853-860.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301147_4
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301147
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    Cited by:

    1. James Livingston & Nimesh Patel & Stephanie Bryson & Peter Hoong & Rodrick Lal & Marina Morrow & Sepali Guruge, 2018. "Stigma associated with mental illness among Asian men in Vancouver, Canada," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(7), pages 679-689, November.
    2. Gaddis, S. Michael & Ramirez, Daniel & Hernandez, Erik L., 2018. "Contextualizing public stigma: Endorsed mental health treatment stigma on college and university campuses," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 183-191.
    3. Daniel Walsh & Juliet Foster, 2022. "Charting an Alternative Course for Mental Health-Related Anti-Stigma Social and Behaviour Change Programmes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Lisa Colman & Katrijn Delaruelle & Carolien Luypaert & Rebekka Verniest & Piet Bracke, 2021. "Burdens in mental health recovery: Causal beliefs and their relation to stigma and help seeking recommendations," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(8), pages 992-1004, December.
    5. Lorenza Magliano & Antonella Strino & Rosanna Punzo & Roberta Acone & Gaetana Affuso & John Read, 2017. "Effects of the diagnostic label ‘schizophrenia’, actively used or passively accepted, on general practitioners’ views of this disorder," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(3), pages 224-234, May.
    6. Jessica L Garcia & Adanna J Johnson & Marianna E Carlucci & Rachel L Grover, 2020. "The impact of mental health diagnoses on perceptions of risk of criminality," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 397-410, June.
    7. Anaïs Le Jeannic & Kathleen Turmaine & Coralie Gandré & Marie-Amélie Vinet & Morgane Michel & Karine Chevreul & on behalf of the PRINTEMPS Consortium, 2023. "Defining the Characteristics of an e-Health Tool for Suicide Primary Prevention in the General Population: The StopBlues Case in France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-23, June.
    8. Xi Chen & Jingjing Su & Daniel Thomas Bressington & Yan Li & Sau Fong Leung, 2022. "Perspectives of Nursing Students towards Schizophrenia Stigma: A Qualitative Study Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, August.
    9. McGinty, Emma E. & Goldman, Howard H. & Pescosolido, Bernice & Barry, Colleen L., 2015. "Portraying mental illness and drug addiction as treatable health conditions: Effects of a randomized experiment on stigma and discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 73-85.
    10. Kohrt, Brandon A. & Turner, Elizabeth L. & Rai, Sauharda & Bhardwaj, Anvita & Sikkema, Kathleen J. & Adelekun, Adesewa & Dhakal, Manoj & Luitel, Nagendra P. & Lund, Crick & Patel, Vikram & Jordans, Ma, 2020. "Reducing mental illness stigma in healthcare settings: Proof of concept for a social contact intervention to address what matters most for primary care providers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    11. Noor Ahmed Giasuddin & Itzhak Levav & Gilad Gal, 2015. "Mental health stigma and attitudes to psychiatry among Bangladeshi medical students," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(2), pages 137-147, March.
    12. Focquaert, Farah, 2019. "Neurobiology and crime: A neuro-ethical perspective," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    13. Monica Zolezzi & Maha Alamri & Shahd Shaar & Daniel Rainkie, 2018. "Stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment in the Arab culture: A systematic review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(6), pages 597-609, September.
    14. Cori L. Tergesen & Dristy Gurung & Saraswati Dhungana & Ajay Risal & Prem Basel & Dipesh Tamrakar & Archana Amatya & Lawrence P. Park & Brandon A. Kohrt, 2021. "Impact of Service User Video Presentations on Explicit and Implicit Stigma toward Mental Illness among Medical Students in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-23, February.
    15. Joseph S DeLuca & Philip T Yanos, 2016. "Managing the terror of a dangerous world: Political attitudes as predictors of mental health stigma," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(1), pages 21-30, February.

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