College students' perceptions of individuals with anorexia nervosa: irritation and admiration.

BACKGROUND

Stigmatizing attitudes against anorexia nervosa (AN) may act as barriers to treatment.

AIMS

Evaluated college students' perceptions of AN as compared to major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHOD

One-hundred two female undergraduates read vignettes describing targets with mild or severe MDD or AN, then rated biological, vanity, and self-responsibility attributions; feelings of admiration, sympathy, and anger; and behavioral dispositions toward coercion into treatment, imitation, and social distance.

RESULTS

AN was perceived more negatively than MDD in terms of vanity attributions, self-responsibility attributions, and feelings of anger, but more positively in terms of admiration and imitation.

CONCLUSIONS

This research demonstrates stigma-related mixed messages received by individuals with AN, which might be useful in improving eating disorders mental health literacy.