title: Changing public stigma with continuum beliefs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the egregious effect of public stigma on the lives of people with mental illness, researchers have sought to unpack and identify effective components of anti-stigma programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We expect to show that continuum messages have more positive effect on stigma and affirming attitudes (beliefs that people with mental illness recover and should be personally empowered) than categorical perspectives. The effect of continuum beliefs will interact with contact strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 598 research participants were randomly assigned to online presentations representing one of the six conditions: three messages (continuum, categorical, or neutral control) by two processes (education or contact). Participants completed measures of continuum beliefs (as a manipulation check), stigma and affirming attitudes after viewing the condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuum messages had significantly better effect on views that people with mental illness are "different," a finding that interacted with contact. Continuum messages also had better effects on recovery beliefs, once again an effect that interacted significantly with contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications of these findings for improving anti-stigma programs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Andrea B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bink
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nieweglowski
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Maya A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Khouja
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Sang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: a Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Discont
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Stigma; change messages and processes