The efficacy of interventions on cognitive, behavioral, and affective public stigma around mental illness: A systematic meta-analytic review.

Abstract

For individuals with mental disorders, public stigma around mental illness exacerbates maladjustment and reluctance to seek treatment, contributing to poor quality of life beyond the effects of the disorder itself. Previous research demonstrates small, albeit significant, effect sizes for stigma reduction interventions. The current meta-analysis examines the effects of interventions on the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of stigma around mental illness. Forty randomized controlled trials of interventions to reduce public stigma were included. Across studies, results demonstrated significant postintervention changes in stereotypic cognitive beliefs about mental illness (k = 33, Hedge's g = 0.29, p < .001), affective responses to mental illness (k = 8, g = 0.26, p = .025), and behavioral intentions toward individuals with mental illness (k = 24, g = 0.54, p < .001). Significant intervention effects persisted at follow-up for cognitive beliefs (k = 15, g = 0.31, p < .001) and behavioral intentions (k = 14, g = 0.41, p = 0.001), but not for affective responses (k = 6, g = 0.20, p = 0.15). Type of intervention, target population, mental illness type, age, duration, and delivery medium moderated effects for some stigma components. As only three studies examined mediators of treatment effects, we know little about the mechanisms through which interventions work to reduce public stigma and the reasons for differential intervention effects on cognitive, affective, and behavioral stigma. Implications of findings and future directions are discussed.

Workplace Mental Health Disclosure, Sustainable Employability and Well-Being at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Military Personnel with Mental Illness

“…A meta-analysis on interventions targeting public-stigma showed that both education and contact between people with and without MI (in the right context, e.g. no power differences) have positive effects on reducing stigma [53].…”

Stigma and Depression Among Chinese High School Students

“…The desire to be accepted overrides reasonable concern for one's mental health status, especially when those students do not understand what they are going through or how serious it is. Similarly, the fear of being exposed to having a mental illness may reduce the likelihood that struggling teens will discuss what they are going through [22].…”

“…This is because negative stereotypes lead to isolation and loneliness. In other words, teenagers might be more likely to refuse treatment due to concerns about being ostracized for their mental illness [22]. The language used to refer to mental illness impacts how the public views people with depression [29].…”

“…Like" The boy who cried wolf," people regard topics used on social media to attract more customers and fans with suspicion. Thus, when depressed students either have a desire to express how they are feeling, they choose to suppress it due to misunderstandings and negative stereotypes generated by social media [22].…”

“…It seemed to imply that adverse views on depression are an obstacle. These comments pressure students who want to seek help because they fear being excluded [22]. Particularly depression among adolescents is sensitive to comments from others; once they receive negative feedback, they would likely decline any therapy and communication that would allow others to understand their situation.…”