Icelandic inclusion, German hesitation and American fear: A cross-cultural comparison of mental-health stigma and the media.

Publisher: Sage Publications Country of Publication: Sweden NLM ID: 100883503 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1651-1905 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14034948 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Scand J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2008->: London, England : Sage Publications
Original Publication: Stockholm ; Boston : Scandinavian University Press, c1999-

Cross-Cultural Comparison* ; Social Stigma*; Mass Media/*statistics & numerical data ; Mental Disorders/*psychology; Adult ; Fear ; Female ; Germany ; Humans ; Iceland ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychological Distance ; United States

Aims: Quantitative survey research findings reveal that Western countries have lower rates of public stigma surrounding mental illness than other nations. However, qualitative media research across selected Western countries reports differences in stigmatising messages. Here, we take an in-depth look at country-level data exploring both similarities and differences in this stigma across three countries. Specifically, we use previous findings on global differences in public stigma and media to examine whether there is a correspondence between themes in newspaper reporting and variations in attitudes across seven stigma dimensions.
Methods: The Stigma in Global Context - Mental Health Study provides nationally representative data from Iceland ( N=1033; response rate=71%), Germany ( N=1255; response rate=63.16%) and the USA ( N=1425; response rate=67.31%). We limit analyses to respondents who received a vignette describing an individual meeting clinical criterion for schizophrenia or depression. Exploratory data analyses are used to examine overall patterns and cross-national differences.
Results: Graphical analyses show patterned similarities, especially for more individuals endorsing social distance as contact becomes more intimate. However, results also corroborate cross-national differences documented in media research. More Americans endorse evaluations of dangerousness, to both self and others. Fewer Icelanders report exclusionary tendencies, whilst Germans report the most consistently moderate levels of stigma.
Conclusions: While Western nations tend to report similar, lower levels of stigma globally, they each have unique areas of concern. Anti-stigma programs must take note of both similarities and differences to tailor their efforts to the local context.

Keywords: Stigma; culture; depression; media; mental health; mental illness; schizophrenia

Date Created: 20180331 Date Completed: 20190404 Latest Revision: 20201209

20240628

10.1177/1403494817750337

29600744