Digital images of pediatric mental disorders do not accurately represent the conditions

Abstract

Objective Digital images might contribute to stigma associated with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these images accurately represent pediatric mental disorders, as well as to explore specific image-related factors that influence perception. Methods Four hundred pictures were retrieved from three stock photograph websites (‘Shutterstock’, ‘iStock’ and ‘Adobe’) and ‘Google Images’ for mental disorders (ADHD, ASD, and depression) and somatic diseases (asthma, diabetes, and influenza) in childhood. Each picture was scored for gender, age, and emotional load. Data was compared against data from epidemiological studies. Ordinal regression was used to predict emotional load from image-related factors. Results There was a significant difference in gender representation of ADHD, ASD, depression, diabetes, and influenza. With respect to age, models were significantly younger in pictures of depression but older in pictures of influenza. Pictures of ASD, asthma and diabetes were mostly positive; however, images for ADHD, depression and influenza carried more negative connotations. For mental disorders, a more positive emotional load was associated with images of young and/or male models. iStock gave more positive images. Conclusions Digital images available in stock databases do not accurately represent pediatric mental and somatic disease. For mental disorders, image-related factors (including age, gender and emotional load) may influence societal perception.

Spanish media coverage of youth mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…These results are consistent with a similar US study that includes more years of evaluation of print media (from 1985 to 2008) [ 12 ], where people diagnosed with ADHD are described in a generally positive light. However, more recent studies published in Belgium, analysing the written media [ 53 ] and pictures on the internet [ 54 ] show more negative results in the representation of ADHD patients. Such results with negative stereotypes about ADHD are worrying, given the fact that a recent study has shown negative self-views and depressive symptomatology as a mediator of functional difficulties at academic level in this population [ 55 ].…”