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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-06-2019 | Original Paper

Associative stigma experienced by mental health professionals in China and the United States

Authors: Xiaoming Lin, Robert Rosenheck, Bin Sun, Guojun Xie, Guhua Zhong, Changzan Tan, Zhupei Li, Min Yu, Hongbo He

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 6/2019

Abstract

Purpose

“Associative stigma” is the negative stereotyping of mental health service providers who treat people with serious mental illness. The Clinician Associative Stigma Scale (CASS) has been validated in a US sample but not in other nations, e.g., in China which has been found to have substantially higher levels of stigma towards people with mental illness than the US.

Methods

The 19-item CASS was translated into Chinese and administrated to 665 mental health professionals working in psychiatric hospitals in Southern China. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare the factor structure with that found in the US sample. Socio-demographic correlates of CASS scores and comparison with US data were conducted using regression models and t test.

Results

CFA showed a good model fit (GFI = 0.911 and RMSEA = 0.068) for the four factors found in the US study: (1) discomfort with disclosing about working with serious mental illness, (2) stereotypes about professionals’ own poor mental health, (3) stereotypes about unpleasantness of working with people with serious mental illness, and (4) stereotypes about lack of treatment effectiveness. Total CASS score and subscales concerning stereotypes about providers’ mental health and about unpleasantness of working with such patients were significantly lower in China than in the US (both P < 0.001), but stereotypes concerning professional ineffectiveness were higher in China.

Conclusion

Associative stigma was lower in China than in the US, possibly reflecting the cultural dominance of respect for educated professionals over stigma towards people with serious mental illness.

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Title: Associative stigma experienced by mental health professionals in China and the United States
Authors: Xiaoming Lin
Robert Rosenheck
Bin Sun
Guojun Xie
Guhua Zhong
Changzan Tan
Zhupei Li
Min Yu
Hongbo He
Publication date: 01-06-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1643-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Associative stigma experienced by mental health professionals in China and the United States

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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