Belief in a just world and attitudes towards mental illness

Abstract

This study investigated whether a person’s belief in a just world (BJW), or knowing someone treated for a mental health problem, was related to their attitudes towards those with a diagnosis of mental illness or to their beliefs about the causes of mental health problems. One hundred and seventy‐three participants completed a questionnaire measuring BJW, attitudes towards, and causal beliefs about, mental health problems. No relationship was found between BJW and attitudes, nor between psychosocial causal beliefs and attitudes. However, biogenetic causal beliefs were associated with attitudes. Those who knew someone who had received treatment for a mental health problem had lower biogenetic belief scores than those who did not. However, there were no differences between the two groups in BJW, attitudes or psychosocial beliefs.

Keywords:

• belief in a just world
• attitudes
• mental illness
• stigma

Notes

1. Please contact the authors for further information on the questionnaire.