Murray State Theses and Dissertations
Abstract
Both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Psychoeducation have been shown to reduce stigmatizing thoughts towards individuals with mental illness. The present study compared the effects of a 50 minute ACT and 50 minute psychoeducation workshop on levels of stigma in college students (N = 76). Psychological flexibility and knowledge about mental illness were examined as potential mechanisms by which the workshops generated stigma reduction. Participants were randomly assigned to either workshop with pre and post scores on the Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill scale used as the primary dependent variable. Both workshops were effective in reducing levels of stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with psychological difficulties. However, psychological flexibility and mental health knowledge did not mediate changes in stigma. Implications for clinical significance and further research directions are discussed.
Year manuscript completed
2017
Year degree awarded
2017
Degree Awarded
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
College/School
College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Committee Chair
Michael Bordieri
Committee Member
Marie Karlsson
Committee Member
Sean Rife
Committee Member
Samir H Patel
Document Type
Thesis
Recommended Citation
Fountain, Rebecca L., "Is Knowing Half the Battle? The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Compared to Psychoeducation on Stigma Towards Mental Illness" (2017). Murray State Theses and Dissertations. 37.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/etd/37
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Counseling Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons