(PS5-A24) The Influence of Cultural Stigma on Perceptions of Mental Illness

Background: Stigmatized attitudes directed towards and internalized by individuals with mental health issues lead to difficulty in coping and seeking treatment. Past research demonstrates different cultures harbor different levels of stigma towards mental illnesses. This stigma affects the individuals with mental health disorders and their loved ones. Yet, little research has explored these factors together. This research study examines stigma and long-term coping with a loved one’s mental health issues across cultures. Specifically, differences in perceptions of mental health based on the type of culture and (in)experience of growing up with someone who had mental health issues were tested. 

Method: A multivariate ANOVA analyzed main effects of culture (individualist vs. collectivist) and experience of living with a loved one with mental health issues (present or absent) as factors predicting attitudes towards mental health among a sample of ethnically and racially diverse college students. We predicted main effects of both culture and exposure, such that collectivists and those who did not grow up with someone who had mental health issues would have more negative perceptions towards mental health. We also predicted an interaction: while individualists would have relatively positive perceptions regardless of experience, collectivists would have negative perceptions where there is no experience but relatively positive perceptions if there is prior experience. We tested whether these effects held when controlling for socioeconomic status, mental health education, mental health support, and gender. Attitudes towards mental health overall were derived from the Measurement of Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviors of Mental Health and Mental Illness report. Other measures included the Social Distance Scale (SDS; comfort in associating with someone with mental illness); the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ; beliefs that mental illness was an individual’s own responsibility); the Affect Scale (AS; reactions to mental illness); and the Devaluation of Consumers scale (DCS; reactions to attitudes of public stigma that individuals with mental illness face). Composites were created from these scales, with higher scores indicating more positive perceptions.

Results: The sample consisted of 236 college students aged between 18 to 44 (M = 21, SD = 2.58). Participants identified as Asian/Asian American (44.5%) followed by Hispanic/Latino (28%), White (10.2%), Multiracial (4%), Black (3.4%), Middle Eastern (1.3%) and Indigenous American (0.4%). The results of the study supported a main effect of culture on anger. Additional analyses found that there were interaction effects among culture and mental health support and culture and mental health familiarity for both personal responsibility and anger. 

Discussion: While some hypotheses were not supported, this study extends a nuanced understanding of how cultural values and stigma may influence mental health perceptions, at least among college students of diverse backgrounds. Further study of diverse samples and cross-cultural will allow for improvements in interventions, treatments, and awareness for mental health issues.