Modern avenues for intergroup contact: Using E-contact and intergroup emotions to reduce stereotyping and social distancing against people with schizophrenia

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 947-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel D. Maunder ◽  
Fiona A. White ◽  
Stefano Verrelli

Intergroup contact is the leading strategy for reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. For the first time, the current study examines the effectiveness of a contemporary intergroup contact strategy, called electronic or E-contact, to reduce stigma against people diagnosed with schizophrenia. It also examines the mediating role of three target-relevant intergroup emotions, namely fear, anger, and pity. In total, 133 participants engaged in E-contact with a person diagnosed with schizophrenia (intergroup E-contact), E-contact with a person without a mental illness (intragroup E-contact), or no contact. Compared to the intragroup E-contact and no-contact conditions, intergroup E-contact reduced fear, anger, and stereotyping toward people with schizophrenia. Additionally, fear and anger, but not pity, were found to be significant affective mediators of the E-contact effect. The findings demonstrate the value of computer-mediated intergroup contact for stigma reduction, and emphasize the importance of intergroup emotions in this domain.

Author(s):  
Beatriz Thadani ◽  
Ana M. Pérez-García ◽  
José Bermúdez

Abstract: Quality of life in patients with borderline personality disorder: The mediating role of life satisfaction. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness characterized by a pattern of instability in relationships, moods and behavior. Using two groups of women (clinical or diagnosed with BPD, N = 138; and control, with no physical or mental illness, N = 124) this study analyzed the differences between pathological personality traits, measured by the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 and different domains of quality of life (SF-36 and the WHODAS 2.0) as well as the mediating role of life satisfaction in personality traits and quality of life. Differences were found between the groups in pathological personality and quality of life. Moreover, many SF-36 dimensions were partially mediated by life satisfaction in both groups. Therefore, new treatments for BPD may include developing life satisfaction, palliating the effects of this disorder on quality of life, reducing its impact on day-to-day tasks.Resumen: El trastorno de personalidad límite (TPL) se caracteriza por inestabilidad en las relaciones, el humor y la conducta. Se analizaron en dos grupos de mujeres (clínico o con TPL, N = 138; y control, sin enfermedad física o mental, N = 124) las diferencias en rasgos patológicos de personalidad (evaluados con el Personality Inventory for DSM-5) y diferentes dominios de calidad de vida (SF-36 y WHODAS 2.0), así como el papel mediador de la satisfacción vital en las relaciones entre personalidad y calidad de vida. Se encontraron diferencias entre los grupos en personalidad patológica y calidad de vida. Además, varias dimensiones de calidad de vida del SF-36 estaban mediadas parcialmente por la satisfacción vital en ambos grupos. Por tanto, los tratamientos del TPL podrían incluir el desarrollo de satisfacción vital para paliar sus efectos en la calidad de vida de los que lo padecen, reduciendo su impacto en las tareas del día a día.


2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402097579
Author(s):  
Qi Fang ◽  
Tian-Ming Zhang ◽  
Yin Ling Irene Wong ◽  
Yuen Yum Yau ◽  
Xu-Hong Li ◽  
...  

Background: Although knowledge is a crucial component in contact theory delineating how prejudice changes toward out-groups with stigmatized conditions, little is known about the mediating role of knowledge on contact, stigmatizing attitudes, and behaviors toward mental illness. Aim: This study aimed to examine the mechanism underlie contact and stigma change by knowledge. Methods: A total of 366 participants including family members (FM), mental health providers (MHP), and community residents (CR) recruited across communities in Hong Kong and completed measures of contact level, contact quantity, contact quality, mental health related knowledge, prejudice, and discriminatory behaviors. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the association among the key variables. Results: Higher level of contact was significantly correlated with better knowledge, less prejudice, and less discriminatory behaviors. Knowledge was directly and negatively correlated with prejudicial attitudes but was not significantly related to discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, lower levels of prejudice were associated with less discriminatory behaviors. Conclusion: Enhancement of contact may increase understanding toward people with mental illness (PMI) and diminish stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. Although prejudicial attitudes may be reduced by broadening mental health knowledge, increasing knowledge only might not ameliorate discriminatory behaviors. Future research should test mediators on contact and stigma by using longitudinal data.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pina Filippello ◽  
Rosalba Larcan ◽  
Luana Sorrenti ◽  
Caterina Buzzai ◽  
Susanna Orecchio ◽  
...  

Despite the extensive research on parental psychological control, no study has explored the relation between parental and teacher psychological control, maladaptive perfectionism and learned helplessness (LH). The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) whether perceived teacher psychological control predicts positively LH, (2) whether perceived parental psychological control predicts maladaptive perfectionism, and (3) whether the association between perceived parental and teacher psychological control and LH is mediated by maladaptive perfectionism. In a sample of 433 participants, 268 females (61.9%) and 165 males (38.1%), ranged in age from 13 to 19 years ( M = 15.38, standard deviation (SD) = 1.18), it was found that teacher psychological control has a more relevant role in the prediction of LH than parental control. Moreover, maladaptive perfectionism was a full mediator of the relationship between perceptions of teacher psychological control and LH. These results extend previous studies on teacher psychological control and, for the first time, provide evidence for the relation with LH, identifying maladaptive perfectionism as a variable that accounts for the relation between teacher psychological control and LH.


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