title: The measurement properties of stigmatizing attitudes towards mental disorders: results from two community surveys.
abstract: Stigma is a well-documented concern of people living with mental illness. Through the use of novel exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) methods, we aimed to elucidate the structure of stigma as measured by two stigma scales (the Depression Stigma Scale and the Social Distance Scale), to establish dimensions of stigma towards a range of disorders and to compare levels on these dimensions between disorders and respondent subgroups. We used data from two Australian national surveys, one of the general community aged 15+ and another of youths aged 15-25. Stigma responses were elicited using a range of mental illness vignettes: depression, schizophrenia, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ESEM revealed that the structure of stigmatizing attitudes in young people and adults is comparable in personally held attitudes and those perceived in others. Personal and perceived stigma formed distinct dimensions with each comprising "Weak-not-sick" and "Dangerous/unpredictable" components. The social distance dimension of stigma was separate from other components of stigma, supporting the appropriateness of the existing Social Distance Scale. Scales reflecting these dimensions had different patterns of association with respondent age and gender, and the type of mental disorder portrayed in the vignette.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Marie B H
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reavley
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: exploratory structural equation modelling; mental illness; social distance; stigma