title: Continuum beliefs in the stigma process regarding persons with schizophrenia and depression: results of path analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with mental illness often experience stigmatization and encounter stereotypes such as being dangerous or unpredictable. To further improve measures against psychiatric stigma, it is of importance to understand its components. In this study, we attend to the step of separation between "us" and "them" in the stigma process as conceptualized by Link and Phelan. In using the belief in continuity of mental illness symptoms as a proxy for separation, we explore its associations with stereotypes, emotional responses and desire for social distance in the stigma process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyses are based on a representative survey in Germany. Vignettes with symptoms suggestive of schizophrenia (n = 1,338) or depression (n = 1,316) were presented to the respondents, followed by questions on continuum belief, stereotypes, emotional reactions and desire for social distance. To examine the relationship between these items, path models were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents who endorsed the continuum belief tended to show greater prosocial reactions (schizophrenia: 0.07; p < 0.001, depression: 0.09; p < 0.001) and less desire for social distance (schizophrenia: -0.13; p < 0.001, depression: -0.14; p < 0.001) toward a person with mental illness. In both cases, agreement with the stereotypes of unpredictability and dangerousness was positively associated with feelings of anger and fear as well as desire for social distance. There were no statistically significant relations between stereotypes and continuum beliefs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assumptions regarding continuum beliefs in the stigma process were only partially confirmed. However, there were associations of continuum beliefs with less stigmatizing attitudes toward persons affected by either schizophrenia or depression. Including information on continuity of symptoms, and thus oppose perceived separation, could prove helpful in future anti-stigma campaigns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Makowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Eva E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mnich
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Mental Health, Gösing am Wagram, Austria; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Matthias C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von dem Knesebeck
keywords: Continuum belief; Depression; Public attitudes; Schizophrenia; Stigma process