• Home
  1. Home
  2. The effects of a documentary film on reducing stigmatisation about schizophrenia
Scientific article
English

The effects of a documentary film on reducing stigmatisation about schizophrenia

Contributors

Larøi, Frank; Van der Linden, Martial

Published in

Psychosis, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 61-72

Publication date

2009

Abstract

Negative public reactions towards people with mental health problems, and in particular those diagnosed with schizophrenia, may result in a number of negative consequences, including aggravating their condition and making it even more difficult for them to assimilate into society. The present study examined young people's attitudes about schizophrenia and evaluated the effect of a documentary film (depicting the lives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia) on reducing stigmatization about schizophrenia. One hundred and fifteen undergraduate psychology students first provided information concerning their attitudes and knowledge about schizophrenia, in addition to filling out a questionnaire assessing their degree of acceptance of negative stereotypes and degree of social distance towards schizophrenia patients. One week later, participants viewed the documentary film and completed the same questionnaire. The film significantly and positively influenced participants' negative attitudes concerning schizophrenia. In particular, after having watched the film, participants revealed less negative and derogatory stereotypical attitudes about schizophrenia and desired less social distance with schizophrenia patients. This change was not related to social desirability, age, sex or years of education.

Keywords

  • Schizophrenia
  • Stigmatisation
  • Social distance
  • Stereotype
  • Documentary film
  • Attitudes

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

LARØI, Frank, VAN DER LINDEN, Martial. The effects of a documentary film on reducing stigmatisation about schizophrenia. In: Psychosis, 2009, vol. 1, n° 1, p. 61–72. doi: 10.1080/17522430802578395

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

1752-2447
670views
3downloads

Technical informations

Creation

15/08/2013 13:02:00

First validation

15/08/2013 13:02:00

Update

14/03/2023 20:23:46

Status update

14/03/2023 20:23:46

Last indexation

30/10/2024 10:06:50
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of Geneva
OpenAIRE Indexed & Validated