Time Waits for No One: Longitudinal Study on the Effects of an Anti-Stigma Seminar on the Psychology Student Population

Luca Pingani, Sara Evans-Lacko, Sandra Coriani, Silvia Ferrari, Maria Filosa, Gian Maria Galeazzi, Mattia Lorenzini, Tommaso Manari, Alessandro Musetti, Anna Maria Nasi and Christian Franceschini
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Luca Pingani: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Sara Evans-Lacko: Care Policy Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK
Sandra Coriani: Department of Health Professions, Azienda USL—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Silvia Ferrari: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Maria Filosa: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
Gian Maria Galeazzi: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Mattia Lorenzini: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Tommaso Manari: Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Alessandro Musetti: Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Anna Maria Nasi: Department of Health Professions, Azienda USL—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Christian Franceschini: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: The primary aim is to describe the changes in the knowledge of mental health conditions, the attitudes toward the mentally ill, and the intended behaviour towards people with mental illness among the entire student population of the third year of a degree course in Psychology. A total of 570 students attended a seminar on stigma towards mental illness and were invited to complete an online survey which collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and three validated questionnaires evaluating different aspects of stigma at three different time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at one year follow up). A total of 253 students (44.39%) completed the questionnaires at t0, t1, and t2. The mean age of the sample was 23.7 (SD = ±5.89), and 86.96% ( n = 220) were females. Between t0 and t1, a statistically significant improvement was observed for all three outcomes, while the intended behaviour outcome was no longer significant between t1 and t2 (Z = ?0.70; p = 0.48). Females and who participated live at the seminar maintained a significant knowledge of mental illness and a better attitude toward community mental health care. The effects of the seminar focused on reducing stigma tended to diminish over time at one year follow-up, particular in relation to intended behaviour.

Keywords: mental illness stigma; discrimination; stereotypes; social and political issues (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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