Sarah's Struggle: Stigma Reduction and Personalization
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Sociology (2nd Major)
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Joyce
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Stigmatization of individuals with mental illness is profoundly harmful. Individuals who are stigmatized are less likely to seek and receive effective treatment and if they (Masuda, Price, Anderson, Schmertz, & Alamaras, 2009). Previous research suggests that psychoeducation can reduce stigma towards individuals with those mental illnesses (Brugh & Joyce, 2017). However, little is known about the role of personalization of vignettes in the effectiveness of stigma reduction. Therefore, the current study attempts to examine the role of language choice in the presentation of that information.
Participants received a survey with one of three vignettes describing an individual suffering from pica. The first described only pica symptoms, the second described the disorder in clinical and detached language, and the third used personal language. Preliminary analyses indicate that there is a significant difference the in level of overall stigma [F(2,48)= 6.671, p=.003], personal stigma [F(2,48)=7.680, p=.001], and perceived stigma [F(2,48)= 8.987, p=.000]. However, post hoc analyses indicate that the second two conditions are not significantly different from each other. These results indicate that teaching individuals about mental illness with or without personalization is equally as effective at reducing stigma.
Fall Scholars Week 2018 Event
Psychology: Completed Projects
Sarah's Struggle: Stigma Reduction and Personalization
Stigmatization of individuals with mental illness is profoundly harmful. Individuals who are stigmatized are less likely to seek and receive effective treatment and if they (Masuda, Price, Anderson, Schmertz, & Alamaras, 2009). Previous research suggests that psychoeducation can reduce stigma towards individuals with those mental illnesses (Brugh & Joyce, 2017). However, little is known about the role of personalization of vignettes in the effectiveness of stigma reduction. Therefore, the current study attempts to examine the role of language choice in the presentation of that information.
Participants received a survey with one of three vignettes describing an individual suffering from pica. The first described only pica symptoms, the second described the disorder in clinical and detached language, and the third used personal language. Preliminary analyses indicate that there is a significant difference the in level of overall stigma [F(2,48)= 6.671, p=.003], personal stigma [F(2,48)=7.680, p=.001], and perceived stigma [F(2,48)= 8.987, p=.000]. However, post hoc analyses indicate that the second two conditions are not significantly different from each other. These results indicate that teaching individuals about mental illness with or without personalization is equally as effective at reducing stigma.