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Cited by 268Mental Health Treatment and AccessChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychology and Mental Health

Public knowledge and assessment of child mental health problems: findings from the national stigma study-children

PESCOSOLIDO, BERNICE A., JENSEN, PETER S., MARTIN, JACK K., PERRY, BREA L., OLAFSDOTTIR, SIGRUN, FETTES, DANIELLE·2008·Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DOI 10.1097/chi.0b013e318160e3a0
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Abstract

Objective Child and adolescent psychiatry confronts help-seeking delays and low treatment use and adherence. Although lack of knowledge has been cited as an underlying reason, we aim to provide data on public recognition of, and beliefs about, problems and sources of help.Method The National Stigma Study-Children is the first nationally representative study of public response to child mental health problems. A face-to-face survey of 1,393 adults (response rate 70.1%, margin of error +/-3.5%) used vignettes consistent with diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. Descriptive and multivariate analyses provide estimates of the levels and correlates of recognition, labeling, and treatment recommendations.Results Respondents do differentiate "daily troubles" from mental health problems. For the cases that meet diagnostic criteria, 58.5% correctly identify depression and 41.9% correctly identify ADHD. However, respondents are less likely to see ADHD as serious, as a mental illness, or needing treatment compared with depression. Moreover, a substantial group who correctly identifies each disorder rejects its mental illness label (ADHD 19.1%, depression 12.8%). Although women are more knowledgeable, the influence of other sociodemographic characteristics, particularly race, is complex and inconsistent. More respondents see general practitioners, mental health professionals, and teachers as suitable sources of advice than psychiatrists. Behaviors and perceived severity seem to drive public responses.Conclusions Americans have clear and consistent views of children's mental health problems. Mental health specialists face challenges in gaining family participation. Unless systematically addressed, the public's lack of knowledge, skepticism, and misinformed beliefs signal continuing problems for providers, as well as for caregivers and children seeking treatment.

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  • Negative attitudes towards people living with depression, and stigma and discrimination, are associated across several world regions with negative outcomes: low help-seeking, poor treatment adherence and poor treatment outcomes, low quality of life, and risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour.

    “Negative attitudes towards people living with depression, and stigma and discrimination, are associated across several world regions with negative outcomes: low help-seeking, poor treatment adherence and poor treatment outcomes, low quality of life, and risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. 339-341”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [341]

  • ADHD in adults remains poorly understood and an 'emotional burden' is attached to the term, especially among professionals not traditionally involved in diagnosis/treatment.

    “ADHD in adults remains a disorder which is poorly understood and where an 'emotional burden' is attached to the term especially among professionals who have not traditionally been involved in the diagnosis or treatment of ADHD [42,44,45].”

    From European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD: The European Network Adult ADHD (2010) · cites this paper as [44]

  • Parents' favorable ratings are consistent with parental endorsement of both primary care physician mental health advice and value of self-help approaches.

    “The parents’ generally favorable ratings of the intervention are consistent with parental endorsement of both primary care physician mental health advice and value of self-help approaches.67,76,77”

    From Adolescent and parent experiences with a primary care/Internet-based depression prevention intervention (CATCH-IT) (2011) · cites this paper as [77]

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Authors
PESCOSOLIDO, B. A., JENSEN, P. S., MARTIN, J. K., PERRY, B. L., OLAFSDOTTIR, S., & FETTES, D.
Affiliations
Boston University (US)
Corresponding author
PESCOSOLIDO, BERNICE A.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-03
Volume
47
Issue
3
Pages
339-349
ISSN
0890-8567 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/chi.0b013e318160e3a0
OpenAlex
W2064323433
Cited by
268
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 24
FWCI
22.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH074985, K02-MH-012989)
  • Fogarty International Center (R01TW006374)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
Keywords
child mental health, public knowledge, mental health stigma, help-seeking, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, childhood depression, mental health service utilization, sources of help, sociodemographic differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Mental Disorders, Child, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Mental Health Services, Parents, Prejudice, United States, Logistic Models

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