The socioeconomic context of stigma: examining the relationship between economic conditions and attitudes towards people with mental illness across European countries

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Abstract

Introduction: Efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness have
intensified over the past 30 years with a particular focus on improving public
attitudes. Difficult economic circumstances can be harmful to intergroup
relations, but little is known about whether there is a relationship between
socioeconomic conditions and attitudes towards people with mental illnesses.
Methods: Random effects logistic regression modelling was employed to explore
the relationship between individual financial circumstances, contextual
socioeconomic factors and difficulty speaking to a person with a significant
mental illness across European countries.
Results: Lower GDP per capita and higher income inequality at the country level,
alongside individual financial difficulties, were each associated with a greater
likelihood of reporting difficulty speaking to a person with a significant mental illness.
Discussion: Micro and macro-economic factors are associated with public attitudes
towards people with mental illness across Europe. With prolonged economic
instability predicted over the coming years in Europe it is important that these
findings are taken into consideration when designing mental health and social
policies, in order to safeguard the progress that has been made in reducing
mental health stigma to date.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages8
JournalFrontiers in Epidemiology
Volume3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Jul 2023

Keywords

  • Stigma
  • mental illness
  • Socioeconomic
  • Income inequity
  • public attitudes

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