Examining the impact of race/ethnicity and gender intersectionality on preferences of social distance from individuals with mental health conditions

ABSTRACT

This study examined the difference between the relationship of socio-demographic variables as well as the intersection between race/ethnicity and gender on nine indicators of social distance from people with mental health conditions (MHC). Secondary analysis of a randomized telephone survey drawn from the Missouri Institute of Mental Health and the Missouri Mental Health Foundation in the spring of 2013 was conducted. The sample included 2,244 Midwestern respondents. Multivariate logistic regressions were utilized. The sample was mostly White (91.7%) and female (59.8%), with a mean age of 57.1 years. Being female, 65+ years of age, and having a higher annual income ($50,000+) was associated with a lower preference for social interactions with individuals experiencing MHC. Black males, however, had an increased willingness to interact with this population. Findings suggest that it may be beneficial for anti-stigma programs to target populations that seem to be consistently less willing to interact with individuals experiencing MHC (e.g., individuals who are older or who have a higher annual income). Additional research is needed to explore why Black men may be more willing to interact with people with MHC.

KEYWORDS:

• Public stigma
• social distance
• mental health conditions
• race/ethnicity intersection

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Missouri Foundation for Health as well as Missouri Institute of Mental Health and the University of Missouri-Columbia Health and Behavioral Risk Research Center for the funding, design, and implementation of the original survey and thank them for their permission to use the data in this unrelated study.