Familiarity Moderates Education Level of Stigma for Professional Efficacy of Treating Mental Illness

ABSTRACT

Background

About one in five adults in the United States experience any mental illness (AMI), whereas 14.2 million experience serious mental illness (SMI). The perception of stigma among individuals experiencing mental illness is associated with care seeking behavior and treatment adherence.

Purpose

Two factors that mitigate stigma are familiarity with someone experiencing AMI/SMI and general level of education. Heretofore, these factors have not been tested together to determine if familiarity moderates the relation between level of education and stigma of professional efficacy for treating mental illness.

Methods

In fall 2020, an online survey in the state of Utah measured 1,300 adults’ perceptions of stigma for AMI/SMI using a validated instrument. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results

Results indicate that familiarity (i.e. self or immediate family member versus other person) moderated level of education for stigma of professional efficacy for treatment of AMI but not SMI.

Discussion

Participants viewed the professional efficacy of treating AMI and SMI differently. These findings have implications for educational interventions designed to mitigate public stigma for professional efficacy of treating mental illness.

Translation to Health Education Practice

Emphasizes the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. assessment of needs and capacity, and evaluation and research competencies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Any mental illness other than serious mental illness (AMI) – A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and addictive disorders.

2. Serious mental illness (SMI) – A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Examples include schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and severe bipolar disorder.

3. The 11 response options included: self, immediate family (spouse/child/sibling/parent etc.), partner (living with you), partner (not living with you), other family (uncle/aunt/cousin/grandparent, etc.), friend, acquaintance, work colleague, other, prefer not to answer, or no one known.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [H79SM081792]; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [H79SP080971]. This article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.