Language and stigmatization of individuals with mental health problems or substance addiction in the Netherlands: An experimental vignette study

Martinelli, Thomas F.; Meerkerk, Gert-Jan; Nagelhout, Gera E.; Brouwers, Evelien P. M.; Weeghel, Jaap van; Rabbers, Gerdien; Mheen, Dike van de

doi:10.1111/hsc.12973

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…These findings are largely discordant with past literature, which has shown that noun labels both promote stigma (Granello & Gibbs, 2016; Penn & Nowlin-Drummond, 2001) and result from stigmatizing beliefs (Carnaghi et al, 2008; Howell et al, 2014; Howell & Woolgar, 2013) or low empathy (Howell et al, 2014; Krzyzanowski et al, 2019). Notably, however, some previous work has failed to find differences between person-first and noun labels (e.g., Martinelli et al, 2020), as in the current studies. While it is difficult to account for this discrepancy, it may be due in part to methodological differences.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Effects of diagnostic label construction and gender on stigma about borderline personality disorder.

Masland¹,

Null²

2022

Stigma and Health

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Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is highly stigmatized. Although person-first labels are now used for most mental illnesses (e.g., a person with schizophrenia) rather than premodified noun labels (e.g., "he is a schizophrenic"), it is still common to hear people referred to as "borderlines." In a series of two experimental studies, we examined how diagnostic labels influence negative attitudes about BPD. In Study 1, we presented vignettes with no diagnostic label, a person-first label, or a premodified noun label and compared BPD vignettes to schizophrenia vignettes. In Study 2, we again examined the influence of diagnostic label on attitudes about BPD and manipulated the gender depicted in the BPD vignettes. In Study 1, negative attitudes related to anger and blame were greater for BPD than schizophrenia. Diagnosis and label construction did not interact. In Study 2, we found little evidence of gender effects, except that male characters with BPD were considered more dangerous and evoked more fear, while female characters were viewed with greater pity. Gender and label construction did not interact. Although we expected that attitudes would be most negative in the premodified noun label condition and least negative in the person-first condition, this was not the case. In both Studies 1 and 2, the condition with no diagnostic label produced the greatest negative attitudes in some but not all stigma domains, while person-first and premodified noun labels did not differ. Results suggest that in some contexts, diagnostic labels reduce negative attitudes about BPD regardless of their specific construction.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Effects of diagnostic label construction and gender on stigma about borderline personality disorder.

Masland¹,

Null²

2022

Stigma and Health

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“…Other studies have shown that using person-first language to refer to individuals with MI results in higher levels of tolerance among professional counselors and community members (Granello & Gibbs, 2016;. These findings have also failed to replicate, suggesting that subtle differences in language may not impact stigmatizing attitudes about MI (Martinelli, 2020;Masland & Null, 2021;Nobel & Marson, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Language on Social Essentialist Beliefs and Stigma about Mental Illness

Williams¹,

Foulser²,

Tillman³

2022

Preprint

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Labeling social groups can increase social essentialism (e.g., beliefs that group members are fundamentally the same), leading to greater discrimination and stigmatization. Labels can also increase stigma about mental illness (MI). Some mental health professionals claim that using "person-first" language can reduce stigma, but there is little empirical support for this, and no studies have investigated the relation between person-first language and social essentialism. Here, 513 adults read vignettes describing characters with MI, using person-first (e.g., "a person with autism"), identity-first (e.g., "an autistic person"), or generic noun language (e.g., "an autistic"). We assessed participants' stigmatizing and essentialist beliefs about characters and their MI. Reported stigma and essentialism were correlated. Person-first language reduced stigmatizing beliefs about individuals with some disorders, e.g., depression, but not others, e.g., autism. Relative to generic nouns, person-first language reduced essentialist beliefs about real mental illnesses, but not novel ones.

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“…The American Psychological Association (APA) defines stigma as an individual’s negative perception of some specific characteristics of themselves or others that has an impact on physical and mental health and personal and social relations [ 8 ]. Several individual characteristics have been clearly defined as sources of stigma, such as being a minority [ 9 , 10 ], using different languages [ 11 , 12 ], living in lower socioeconomic environments [ 13 ], and being a substance abuser [ 14 – 17 ]. Having multiple such traits, for instance, being both a minority and substance abuser, increases the impact of stigma.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers, facilitators, and sources of stigma among Akha and Lahu hill tribe people who used methamphetamine in Thailand: a qualitative approach

et al. 2022

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Background The stigma related to drug use has several impacts, including effects on users’ physical and mental health. Methamphetamine is a major drug that is used among hill tribes living in the border areas of Thailand and Myanmar. This study aimed to understand the drivers, facilitators, sources and outcomes of the stigma surrounding drug use, including the expectations among Akha and Lau hill tribe people who use methamphetamine in Thailand. Methods Qualitative data were used to elicit information from key informants and members of the hill tribes who used methamphetamine. The questionnaire was developed from a literature review and tested for validity before use. In-depth interviews were used to confidentially gather information from the participants in private rooms in villages. Each interview lasted 45 min, and a thematic analysis was conducted to examine the findings. Results A total of 46 participants were recruited to provide information; 95.7% were male, and 50.0% were aged 15–34 years. The majority were married (47.8%), 76.1% were Christian, and 45.7% graduated high school. Six drivers of stigma were detected: being poor, illiterate, unemployed, working aged, female, and married. Culture and tribe acted as facilitators of the stigma attached to methamphetamine use. Four sources of stigma were found: self, family members, peers, and community members. Three outcomes of stigma were determined: poor physical health, mental health, and relationships with others. There were four levels of expectations: no expectations, expectations for themselves, expectations for their family members, and expectations for their community members. Conclusions Many personal traits, people living nearby, and socioeconomic factors, including culture and tribes, act as drivers, facilitators, and sources of stigma among hill tribe people who use methamphetamine. A program to reduce methamphetamine use among hill tribes should be implemented, which could eventually minimize stigma.

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Language and stigmatization of individuals with mental health problems or substance addiction in the Netherlands: An experimental vignette study

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Effects of diagnostic label construction and gender on stigma about borderline personality disorder.

Effects of diagnostic label construction and gender on stigma about borderline personality disorder.

Effects of Language on Social Essentialist Beliefs and Stigma about Mental Illness

Drivers, facilitators, and sources of stigma among Akha and Lahu hill tribe people who used methamphetamine in Thailand: a qualitative approach

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