The Stigmatizing Attitudes of Syrian University Students Toward Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Stigma is frequently considered an obstacle to schizophrenia treatment and recovery. However, little is known regarding the stigma experienced by persons with schizophrenia among Syrian college students.Methods: A total of 963 students from Syrian colleges and universities participated in this study, using a questionnaire with a case vignette illustrating schizophrenia. The questionnaire inquired about people's attitudes toward schizophrenia and their desire to avoid contact with people with schizophrenia. The current study investigated college students' stigma toward people with schizophrenia, desire for social distancing, gender (male and female), and major (medical and non-medical) differences.Results: The people described in the vignette were deemed "dangerous" (28%) and "could snap out of the problem" (50.20%), according to the respondents. Female students were more likely than male students to agree that "schizophrenia is not really a medical disease" (4.40% vs. 8.9%, p ≤ 0.05). Compared with medical students, non-medical students were more likely to agree that "The problem is a reflection of personal weakness" (20% vs. 21.7%, p < 0.05). Many respondents said they would not "marry into the family of someone with schizophrenia" (95.6%) or "work closely with them" (77.6%). Conclusion:In this study, it was observed that a considerable percentage of Syrian college students exhibited stigma toward persons with schizophrenia and really wanted to avoid social interaction with them, with female and non-medical students having higher stigma toward people with schizophrenia in several subscale items. The findings imply that more anti-stigma interventions for Syrian college students should be implemented to help avoid or lessen the stigma toward people with schizophrenia.

Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Patients with mental Disorders Among students in Jordan Universities

“…The ndings were consistent with previous reports that people with schizophrenia faced a higher level of stigma than people with other mental illnesses. [35], [36] The results indicated that the patterns of personal stigma and perceived stigma varied between schizophrenia, depression, and GAD. The beliefs that people with the problem are dangerous and unpredictable were signi cantly higher for the schizophrenia vignette and much higher than in other studies about stigma among university students [35], [37].…”

“…[35], [36] The results indicated that the patterns of personal stigma and perceived stigma varied between schizophrenia, depression, and GAD. The beliefs that people with the problem are dangerous and unpredictable were signi cantly higher for the schizophrenia vignette and much higher than in other studies about stigma among university students [35], [37]. With the development of internet media in recent years, media reports about violence related to schizophrenia may have contributed to the perception of dangerousness.…”