Stigma in the context of schools: analysis of the phenomenon of stigma in a population of university students

Abstract

BackgroundStudents have stereotyped views about people with mental illness. In particular, they believe that these persons are incurable, dangerous, unpredictable and responsible for their condition. This study aims to investigate the levels of public stigma in an Italian university population.MethodsThe Attribution Questionnaire 27 - Italian Version (AQ-27-I) was administered to a sample of students from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. After examining the psychometric characteristics of the AQ-27-I (Cronbach’s Alpha and Confirmatory Factor Analysis), multiple linear regression analyses were carried out to identify the predictors of stigmatizing attitudes in this population.ResultsThree hundred and eleven students completed the questionnaire, with a response rate of 32.81 % (out of the 948 contacted by email). The AQ-27-I showed good psychometric properties with an α = .68, and the fit indices of the models that partially supported the factor structure and paths. The two variables identified as possible predictors of stigmatizing attitudes (total score of AQ-27-I) were age and time spent reading newspapers.ConclusionsAntistigma campaigns are needed in university contexts, targeted in particular to students in health professions.

Instruments to assess mental health‐related stigma among health professionals and students in health sciences: A systematic psychometric review

“…In addition to the study about the original version (Corrigan et al., ) we identified four studies. Three studies assessed the measurement properties of versions adapted to Italian and Brazilian populations (Araujo‐Pereire, Eloi‐Santos, & Delbone‐Faira, ; Pingani et al., , ). One study evaluated a short version of nine items (Corrigan et al., ).…”

Versão brasileira do Attribution Questionnaire – Adaptação transcultural e validação de propriedades psicométricas

“…Os itens são agrupados em nove dimensões diferentes, no original: anger, dangerousness, fear, coercion, segregation, avoidance, help, pity e responsability. Propriedades psicométricas já foram avaliadas por outros autores de língua inglesa 28 e italiana 29,30 . Uma versão preliminar portuguesa foi obtida pela tradução e retrotradução para a língua inglesa e a escala foi testada em familiares de pacientes portadores de esquizofrenia em Portugal 31 .…”

Comparison of Degrees of Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill Between Relatives of Psychiatric Patients, Health Workers and the General Public

“…It appears that cultural beliefs and misconceptions about mental illness still hold sway in the minds of health workers despite several years of exposure to western education. This underscores the need for concerted effort towards a robust sustained campaign against stigma towards the mentally ill among health workers who if properly educated should champion this crusade on a larger scale [26,27].…”