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The influence of an anti‐stigma intervention on adolescents' attitudes to schizophrenia: a mixed methodology approach
Author(s) -
Economou Marina,
Peppou Lily E.,
Geroulanou Klio,
Louki Eleni,
Tsaliagkou Irene,
Kolostoumpis Dimitris,
Stefanis Costas N.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
child and adolescent mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1475-3588
pISSN - 1475-357X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2012.00669.x
Subject(s) - stigma (botany) , mental illness , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , social stigma , mental health , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , family medicine
Background This study aimed at exploring adolescents' attitudes to schizophrenia and the impact of an educational intervention on improving them, by employing a mixed methodology. Method A total of 1081 secondary‐school students were randomly allocated to a control and intervention condition. Stigma endorsement was assessed by a free association card and a questionnaire, before and 2 weeks after the intervention. Results The intervention yielded substantial changes in students' beliefs, attitudes and social distance levels as well as in their associations with the term ‘severe mental illness’. Conclusions Educational interventions can contribute substantially to preventing consolidation of unfavourable attitudes towards mental illness.