title: A qualitative study of undergraduates' conceptualizations of mental illness.
abstract: This qualitative study examined three stigma reduction interventions against mental illness stigma: education, video, and contact. Undergraduates (N = 69) in three introductory psychology classes from a small, Catholic, liberal arts university in the northeast United States participated. Responses to two open-ended questions revealed common negative and stereotypical themes associated with mental illness. The benefits of supplementing traditional social distance measures with a qualitative approach, as well as the importance of considering a social developmental approach to stigma education are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Counseling , Alvernia University , Reading , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matteo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012929:Psychological Distance; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D057545:Social Stigma; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult