Older adults' perceptions of mentally ill older adults.
OBJECTIVE
Many mentally ill older adults are stigmatized, which reduces quality of life and discourages help-seeking. This study's goal was to identify factors associated with stigma.


METHODS
Community-dwelling older adults (N = 101) were asked to indicate their attitudes toward and reactions to three hypothetical older women with depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.


RESULTS
The results suggest that schizophrenic persons are viewed as most dangerous and dependent, while anxious persons are seen as most responsible for their illness. Age, gender, and educational level of participants were associated with desired social distance and differing perceptions of the hypothetical persons.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings can be used to improve educational efforts that seek to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness in older adults.
Webb
Alicia K
AK
Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356-0200, USA.
Jacobs-Lawson
Joy M
JM
Waddell
Erin L
EL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003866:Depressive Disorder; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012559:Schizophrenia; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires