Social distance in response to psychiatric labels

Ethnic, Gender, and Contact Differences in Intimacy Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users

Student attitudes toward having a relationship with a wheelchair user were explored. Participants initially selected one of six opposite gender head shots and subsequently viewed their selection’s whole body photograph in a wheelchair along with reading a short biography. Primarily undergraduate Hispanic and Caucasian students ( N = 810) were surveyed regarding their interest in potentially being friends, dating, or marrying a wheelchair user, with 66% indicating they would have no problem dating or marrying a wheelchair user. Chi-square tests of pairwise association, logistical regression, and test of proportional odds revealed significant differences, p = .001, between ethnicity, gender, type of relationship, and having had a prior disability relationship. Personal traits of intelligence, humor, kindness, and physical appearance were rated most highly. Those unwilling to date or marry their selection perceived the partner would require too much caregiving, social interaction awkwardness, inability to sexually perform, and the partner being sick often. Counselors can benefit from informing clients about intimacy misconceptions by role-playing and providing clients with insights regarding societal beliefs.

An elective psychiatric course to reduce pharmacy students' social distance toward people with severe mental illness

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an elective course on mental health could reduce pharmacy students' social distance toward people with severe mental illness.

DESIGN

Course activities included assigned readings, class discussions, student presentations, review of video and other media for examples of social distance, presentations by patients with mental illness, and visits to hospitalized patients in a variety of psychiatric settings.

ASSESSMENT

The Social Distance Scale (SDS) was administered at the beginning and end of the semester to students enrolled in the elective and to a comparator group of students not enrolled in the course. Pharmacy students who did not complete the elective had significantly higher SDS scores than students who completed the elective (18.7 vs. 15.6, p < 0.001). Students enrolled in the course had lower precourse SDS scores, were more likely than their peers to have a personal association with mental illness, and had a decrease in precourse to postcourse scores.

CONCLUSION

A course designed to reduce stigma towards the mentally ill can reduce pharmacy students' social distance.

Willingness to Engage in Personal Relationships With Persons With Disabilities

This study examined the willingness of persons without disabilities (PWODs) to engage in personal relationships with persons with disabilities (PWDs). Participants ( N = 305) were primarily female Hispanic students (91%) preparing for careers in the helping professions. The Relationships and Disability Survey assessed the effect of the category and severity of disability on the type of relationships students were willing to have with PWDs. Students also ranked personal attributes of PWDs that might affect their willingness to engage in relationships. Results indicated that students were significantly more willing to have friendships and acquaintanceships with persons with mild to moderate disabilities and persons with sensory, health, and physical impairments. Students were least willing to marry or have a partnership with a PWD, especially if the PWD had cognitive and psychiatric impairments. Personal attributes of intelligence, kindness, and humor were rated most highly.

Desire for social distance from people with mental disorders

The scientific literature on stigma has been confused because there are multiple components of stigma with different correlates. In order to make sense of this confusion, the present review focuses on research on the most commonly measured component: social distance. The review examines measurement of social distance; characteristics of people who desire greater social distance; experiences that affect social distance; characteristics of people that elicit social distance; the effects of psychiatric labelling; the effects of causal explanations for mental disorders; and interventions to reduce social distance. It is concluded that future research on social distance needs to focus on better evaluation of interventions and examine discriminatory and supportive behaviours in real life rather than in hypothetical situations.