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Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased mental illness rates, although the degree to which is associated with mental health stigmatizing attitudes and helping intentions is unknown.
Aims
This vignette-based study examined differences in health professions students’ attitudes and intentions to help an individual described as experiencing anxiety with or without exacerbation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
College students majoring in health and human service professions (n = 419) completed an online survey, including questions about a vignette describing a person experiencing anxiety. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two vignette conditions, with one condition mentioning COVID-19 exacerbated the person’s anxiety.
Results
When the vignette was framed as anxiety symptoms due to COVID-19, participants were less likely to endorse helping behaviors and were less likely to be willing to spend time with the target.
Conclusions
Despite the study limitations, results reveal avenues for future research that may aid in training future health professionals and preventing stigma.
Acknowledgements
The research team would like to acknowledge input from Drs. Mariquita Belen and Chrisovalantis Paxos, as well as editorial assistance from Ms. Emma Shrivers (undergraduate research assistant at Miami University).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from Rose Marie Ward ([email protected]), upon reasonable request.
Notes
1 Mental health literacy is a term that refers to, “...knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention” (Jorm et al., Citation1997, p. 182).