1 Department of Sociology, Indiana University, USA.
2 Department of Sociology, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Scand J Public Health. 2019 Mar;47(2):90-98. doi: 10.1177/1403494817750337. Epub 2018 Mar 30.
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.
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.
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.
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.
定量调查研究结果表明，西方国家对精神疾病的公众污名化程度低于其他国家。然而，对选定西方国家的定性媒体研究报告称存在污名化信息的差异。在这里，我们深入研究了探索三个国家之间这种污名化的相似性和差异性的国家层面数据。具体来说，我们利用之前关于公众污名化和媒体的全球差异的研究结果，来检验在七个污名维度的态度变化方面，报纸报道中的主题是否与差异存在对应关系。
《全球背景下的污名-心理健康研究》提供了来自冰岛（N=1033；回复率=71%）、德国（N=1255；回复率=63.16%）和美国（N=1425；回复率=67.31%）的全国代表性数据。我们将分析仅限于收到描述一个符合精神分裂症或抑郁症临床标准的个体的小传的受访者。探索性数据分析用于检查总体模式和跨国差异。
图形分析显示出有模式的相似性，尤其是在接触变得更加亲密时，更多的人更倾向于保持社会距离。然而，结果也证实了媒体研究中记录的跨国差异。更多的美国人认可对自我和他人的危险性评估。冰岛人报告的排斥倾向较少，而德国人则报告出最一致的中等程度的污名化。
虽然西方国家在全球范围内倾向于报告类似的、较低程度的污名化，但它们各自都有独特的关注领域。反污名化项目必须注意到相似性和差异性，以便根据当地情况调整其努力。
