Public knowledge, attitudes, social distance and reported contact regarding people with mental illness 2009–2015

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether public knowledge, attitudes, desire for social distance and reported contact in relation to people with mental health problems have improved in England during the Time to Change (TTC) programme to reduce stigma and discrimination [2009][2010][2011][2012][2013][2014][2015]. Methods: Using data from an annual face-to-face survey of a nationally representative sample of adults, we analysed longitudinal trends in the outcomes with regression modelling using standardised scores of the measures overall and by age and gender subgroups. Significant outcomes• During the course of the Time to Change programme to reduce stigma and discrimination in England over 2009-2015, improvements among representative samples of the adult population were observed initially in attitudes, desire for social distance and reported contact; these were followed by improvements in stigma-related knowledge.• Lived experience of a mental health problem had the strongest positive association with all outcomes out of the variables measured.• The effects of survey year on attitudes and reported contact were modified by age and gender. This suggests that the campaign had more impact on the attitudes of the target age group (25-45) than those aged over 65 or under 25 and that women's reported contact with people with mental health problems increased more than did men's.

Small area deprivation and stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness: a multilevel analysis of Health Survey for England (2014) data

“…This study found no evidence to suggest that employment status or familiarity with mental illness explain the relationship between small area-level deprivation and attitudes towards mental illness, despite both being associated with attitudes in univariable analyses. The latter findings are supported by previous research, which suggests that lower levels of employment are associated with worse attitudes and participants who are more familiar with mental health problems report more positive attitudes, in keeping with Allport's contact hypothesis whereby more positive attitudes form through contact with stigmatised groups [7,8,12,13,23]. Whilst there is evidence in the literature to suggest area deprivation is associated with employment status [24], there is no evidence that individuals who are more familiar with mental illness reside in less deprived areas.…”

“…Several individual-level variables were included in this study. These were: (1) age (16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and 75 + years) [7,8]; (2) sex (male and female) [7][8][9][10][11], (3) ethnicity (white, black, Asian and mixed/other) [7]; (4) closest person with a mental illness, as a marker of familiarity with mental illness (self, immediate family/partner, other family or friend, acquaintance, colleague or other, don't know anyone) [7,8,12,13]; (5) highest educational attainment (no qualifications; post-16 qualifications such as GCSEs; post-18 qualifications below degree level, including A Levels; and degree level qualifications or equivalent); (6) equivalised weekly income (£0-£233, £233-£369, £369-£532, £532-£852 and £852 +); and (7) employment status (foreman or supervisor; manager; self-employed; or employee not elsewhere classified) [8].…”

“…Previous research has highlighted that individual characteristics such as age [7,8], sex [7][8][9][10][11], ethnicity [7] and familiarity with mental illness [7,8,12,13] are associated Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s0012 7-019-01722 -w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. with attitudes towards mental illness.…”

“…For example, younger and older populations (between 16 and 35 years and over 65 years, respectively) hold the most negative views whilst women hold more positive attitudes compared to men in most studies exploring gender differences [7][8][9][10]. White respondents give scores indicating more positive views compared to respondents from black and minority ethnic groups [7] and those suffering from a mental illness, or who know an individual that is, hold more positive attitudes [7,8,12,13]. In addition, evidence suggests an individual's socioeconomic status (SES) [7], and markers of SES such as education level, employment status and household income, are associated with attitudes towards mental illness [8].…”

“…White respondents give scores indicating more positive views compared to respondents from black and minority ethnic groups [7] and those suffering from a mental illness, or who know an individual that is, hold more positive attitudes [7,8,12,13]. In addition, evidence suggests an individual's socioeconomic status (SES) [7], and markers of SES such as education level, employment status and household income, are associated with attitudes towards mental illness [8]. For example, unemployed participants from low SES groups, with no qualifications or low household incomes report the least positive views [8].…”