Social distance and the dying

Kalish, Richard A.

doi:10.1007/bf01420690

Cited by 34 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…A study by Van Orden et al (2006), which also utilized Florida State University undergraduates as participants, found mean scores on an item stating I would not befriend someone who was suicidal tended toward the response option “not at all true” (i.e., mean of approximately 6 on a 1–7 scale ranging from “very true” to “not at all true”). The results of Van Orden et al (2006) demonstrate improvement in social distancing toward suicidal individuals compared to Lester (1993), which in turn demonstrated an improvement compared to Kalish (1966). Additionally, a recent study by Paukert and Pettit (2007) randomly assigned college students to read a vignette describing a depressed individual who either had or had not attempted suicide.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Social distance is akin to stigmatization, and refers to the intimacy, indifference, or hostility one displays towards particular people or groups. A study conducted in the 1960s found that people desired more social distance from those who had attempted suicide than from ethnic and religious groups typically discriminated against at the time (Kalish, 1966). A replication of this same study 25 years later found that participants still put considerable distance between themselves and someone who had attempted suicide, though they were willing to put themselves slightly closer than were participants in the earlier study (Lester, 1992–1993).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Reason for cautious optimism? two studies suggesting reduced stigma against suicide

Witte¹,

Smith²,

Joiner³

2010

J Clin Psychol

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We present data from two studies that aimed to investigate stigma against suicide. In Study 1, we employed Milgram et al.'s (1965) “lost letter” technique. We predicted that fewer letters addressed to a fictitious organization with the word “suicide” in its name would be returned than letters addressed to fictitious heart disease or diabetes organizations, presumably due to stigma. Contrary to expectation, there were no differences in the percentage of letters returned for each condition, despite power to detect small effects. In Study 2 we compared scores on the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ; Domino, Gibson, Poling, & Westlake, 1980) from a study published in 1988 (Domino, MacGregor, & Hannah, 1988) to scores from a study conducted 19 years later. Results demonstrated reduced stigma toward suicide, with the belief that suicide is morally bad exhibiting the largest change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reason for cautious optimism? two studies suggesting reduced stigma against suicide

Witte¹,

Smith²,

Joiner³

2010

J Clin Psychol

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“…Discrimination may be direct, as shown by studies that demonstrate how people who have attempted suicide are subject to similar processes of “social distancing” as those directed at ethnic or religious minorities (28, 29). Suicides typically leave a total of six or more survivors, with a consequent long-lasting emotional turmoil, which may in some cases end with the survivors’ own suicide (30).…”

Section: Consequences Of Stigma Toward Suicidementioning

confidence: 99%

The Reciprocal Relationship between Suicidality and Stigma

2017

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IntroductionAlthough suicidality is frequently the cause of stigma, it is conversely true that stigma may be the cause of suicidality. The present paper focuses on the complex relationships that exist between suicidal behavior and stigmatizing attitudes.MethodsA narrative review of the topic will be presented on the basis of the relevant literature collected from an electronic search of PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases, using stigma, public stigma, structural stigma, perceived stigma, self-stigma, suicide, attempted suicide, and suicidality as key words.ResultsA negative perception is frequently held of suicidal people, labeling them as weak and unable to cope with their problems, or selfish. Individuals who have attempted suicide are subject to similar processes of stigmatization and “social distancing”; insurance policies include an exclusion clause against death by suicide. Subjects with a direct personal experience of depression or suicide strongly endorse a feeling of self-stigma; those who have attempted suicide are often ashamed and embarrassed by their behavior and tend to hide the occurrence as much as possible. Similar processes are observed among family members of subjects who have committed suicide or made a suicide attempt, with a higher perceived stigma present in those bereaved by suicide. Perceived or internalized stigma produced by mental or physical disorders, or through belonging to a minority group, may represent a significant risk factor for suicide, being severely distressing, reducing self-esteem and acting as a barrier in help-seeking behaviors.ConclusionWith the aim of preventing suicide, greater efforts should be made to combat the persisting stigmatizing attitudes displayed toward mental disorders and suicide itself. Indeed, the role of stigma as a risk factor for suicide should further motivate and spur more concerted efforts to combat public stigma and support those suffering from perceived or internalized stigma. Experts and scientific societies should form an alliance with the media in an effort to promote a marked change in the societal perception of mental health issues and suicide. As stigma may result in severe consequences, specialist care and psychological interventions should be provided to populations submitted to stigma.

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“…In smaller studies with a tighter focus, other researchers utilized the social distance scale as well. These studies gauged the social distance between doctors and nurses in a mental hospital (Pearlin and Rosenberg ); health professionals and dying patients (Kalish ); immigrants and their rates of naturalization (Walsh ); whites and Asians, blacks, or Hispanics (Wilson ); whites attending interracial churches and African Americans (Yancey ); middle school teachers and the 30 Bogardus groups (Kleg and Yamamoto ); blacks or whites and Jews (Raden ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The National Social Distance Study: Ten Years Later

Parrillo

Donoghue

2013

Sociological Forum

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The Bogardus social distance scale, which measures the level of acceptance that Americans feel toward members of the most common ethnic and racial groups in the United States, was administered six times nationally between 1920 and 2001. Replicating the most recent study with its revised list of ethnic and racial groups, the authors of this study analyzed a stratified random sample of 3,166 college students, making it the largest national social distance study ever conducted. The findings indicate an increase since 2001 in the mean level of social distance toward all ethnic groups, as well as in the spread between the groups with the highest and lowest levels of social distance. Further, a consistency between studies in group preferences reaffirms the relevance of the similarity-attraction bond in accepting those who are racially and culturally different. Mean comparisons and analysis of variance tests also showed that gender, birthplace of respondents and/or their parents, race, and year in college are all significant indicators of the level of social distance toward groups.

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Social distance and the dying

Cited by 34 publications

References 2 publications

Reason for cautious optimism? two studies suggesting reduced stigma against suicide

Reason for cautious optimism? two studies suggesting reduced stigma against suicide

The Reciprocal Relationship between Suicidality and Stigma

The National Social Distance Study: Ten Years Later

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