title: The lay concept of childhood mental disorder.
abstract: The structure of lay people's concepts of childhood mental disorder was investigated in a questionnaire study and examined for convergence with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Eighty-four undergraduates who had no formal education in abnormal psychology rated 54 conditions--36 DSM-IV childhood disorders and 18 non-disorders--on features proposed in technical definitions of mental disorder. The lay concept of childhood mental disorder was narrower than the DSM-IV, although most conditions were perceived to warrant professional help. Three dimensions described beliefs about childhood psychopathology: social deviancy, harmful dysfunction, and harmful environment. Harmful dysfunction was related to mental disorder and help seeking judgments.
authors.affiliation: National Ageing Research Institute, PO Box 31, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. m.giummarra@nari.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Melita J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Giummarra
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haslam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D014739:Victoria
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