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Original Article

College students’ perceptions of individuals with anorexia nervosa: irritation and admiration

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Pages 83-87 | Received 07 Jun 2014, Accepted 22 Nov 2014, Published online: 02 Feb 2015
 

Abstract

Background: Stigmatizing attitudes against anorexia nervosa (AN) may act as barriers to treatment.

Aims: Evaluated college students’ perceptions of AN as compared to major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: One-hundred two female undergraduates read vignettes describing targets with mild or severe MDD or AN, then rated biological, vanity, and self-responsibility attributions; feelings of admiration, sympathy, and anger; and behavioral dispositions toward coercion into treatment, imitation, and social distance.

Results: AN was perceived more negatively than MDD in terms of vanity attributions, self-responsibility attributions, and feelings of anger, but more positively in terms of admiration and imitation.

Conclusions: This research demonstrates stigma-related mixed messages received by individuals with AN, which might be useful in improving eating disorders mental health literacy.

Declaration of interest

Funding was provided by the Marquette University Honors Program. MUHP had no role in the study design, data collection/analysis, or decision to submit the paper for publication.

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