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Depression Stigma

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher Roth

    (University of Cologne and ECONtribute, MPI for Research on Collective Goods)

  • Peter Schwardmann

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Egon Tripodi

    (Hertie School of Governance)

Abstract

Throughout history, people with mental illness have been discriminated against and stigmatized. Our experiment provides a new measure of perceived depression stigma and then investigates the causal effect of perceived stigma on help-seeking in a sample of 1,844 Americans suffering from depression. A large majority of our participants overestimate the extent of stigma associated with depression. In contrast to prior correlational evidence, lowering perceived social stigma through an information intervention leads to a reduction in the demand for psychotherapy. A mechanism experiment reveals that this information increases optimism about future mental health, thereby reducing the perceived need for therapy.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Roth & Peter Schwardmann & Egon Tripodi, 2024. "Depression Stigma," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 286, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:286
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johannes Haushofer & Robert Mudida & Jeremy P. Shapiro, 2020. "The Comparative Impact of Cash Transfers and a Psychotherapy Program on Psychological and Economic Well-being," NBER Working Papers 28106, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Blattman, Christopher & Sheridan, Margaret A. Ph.D. & Jamison, Julian C. & Chaskel, Sebastian, 2022. "Cognitive behavior therapy reduces crime and violence over 10 years: Experimental evidence," SocArXiv q85ux, Center for Open Science.
    3. Besley, Timothy & Coate, Stephen, 1992. "Understanding welfare stigma: Taxpayer resentment and statistical discrimination," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 165-183, July.
    4. Alexis Grigorieff & Christopher Roth & Diego Ubfal, 2020. "Does Information Change Attitudes Toward Immigrants?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(3), pages 1117-1143, June.
    5. Anselm Hager & Lukas Hensel & Johannes Hermle & Christopher Roth, 2023. "Political Activists as Free Riders: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(653), pages 2068-2084.
    6. Karlan, Dean & Barker, Nathan & Bryan, Gharad & Ofori-Atta, Angela & Udry, Christopher, 2021. "Mental Health Therapy as a Core Strategy for Increasing Human Capital: Evidence from Ghana," CEPR Discussion Papers 16640, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer & Christopher Roth, 2018. "Measuring and Bounding Experimenter Demand," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(11), pages 3266-3302, November.
    8. Haaland, Ingar & Roth, Christopher, 2020. "Labor market concerns and support for immigration," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    9. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer, 2016. "Depression for Economists," NBER Working Papers 22973, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Christopher Blattman & Sebastian Chaskel & Julian C. Jamison & Margaret Sheridan, 2022. "Cognitive Behavior Therapy Reduces Crime and Violence over 10 Years: Experimental Evidence," NBER Working Papers 30049, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Yang, Dean & Allen, James & Mahumane, Arlete & Riddell, James & Yu, Hang, 2023. "Knowledge, stigma, and HIV testing: An analysis of a widespread HIV/AIDS program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    12. Matthew W. Ridley & Gautam Rao & Frank Schilbach & Vikram H. Patel, 2020. "Poverty, Depression, and Anxiety: Causal Evidence and Mechanisms," NBER Working Papers 27157, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Saurabh Bhargava & Dayanand Manoli, 2015. "Psychological Frictions and the Incomplete Take-Up of Social Benefits: Evidence from an IRS Field Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(11), pages 3489-3529, November.
    14. Yu, Hang, 2023. "Social stigma as a barrier to HIV testing: Evidence from a randomized experiment in Mozambique," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Depression; Stigma; Information; Psychotherapy;
    All these keywords.

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