TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge about schizophrenia and social distance toward individuals with schizophrenia
T2 - A survey among predominantly low-income, urban, African American community members
AU - Esterberg, Michelle L.
AU - Compton, Michael T.
AU - Mcgee, Robin
AU - Shim, Ruth
AU - Hochman, Karen
PY - 2008/3/1
Y1 - 2008/3/1
N2 - This study surveyed 111 urban African American community members regarding their level of familiarity with mental illness, knowledge about schizophrenia, and social distance toward individuals with schizophrenia. The participants were predominantly Protestant, with relatively low educational attainment and low income. Knowledge and social distance scores were not significantly correlated. Independently significant predictors of knowledge about schizophrenia, which accounted for 49% of the variance in scores, included level of educational attainment, gender, having a friend with a history of psychiatric treatment, and having known someone with schizophrenia. Independent predictors of social distance scores included family history of psychiatric treatment and family history of schizophrenia, which accounted for 14% of variance in scores. Further research involving specific racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic groups is needed to better understand the complex associations underlying knowledge about schizophrenia and stigma.
AB - This study surveyed 111 urban African American community members regarding their level of familiarity with mental illness, knowledge about schizophrenia, and social distance toward individuals with schizophrenia. The participants were predominantly Protestant, with relatively low educational attainment and low income. Knowledge and social distance scores were not significantly correlated. Independently significant predictors of knowledge about schizophrenia, which accounted for 49% of the variance in scores, included level of educational attainment, gender, having a friend with a history of psychiatric treatment, and having known someone with schizophrenia. Independent predictors of social distance scores included family history of psychiatric treatment and family history of schizophrenia, which accounted for 14% of variance in scores. Further research involving specific racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic groups is needed to better understand the complex associations underlying knowledge about schizophrenia and stigma.
KW - African Americans
KW - Knowledge
KW - Mental health literacy
KW - Schizophrenia
KW - Social distance
KW - Stigma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41149108732&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1097/01.pra.0000314315.94791.80
DO - 10.1097/01.pra.0000314315.94791.80
M3 - Article
C2 - 18360194
AN - SCOPUS:41149108732
VL - 14
SP - 86
EP - 93
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Practice
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Practice
SN - 1527-4160
IS - 2
ER -