Stigmatization of Individuals Who Receive Psychotherapy: An Interaction Between Help-seeking Behavior and the Presence of Depression
Abstract
The nature and extent of stigmatization attached to individuals who seek outpatient psychotherapy for depression was investigated. Three hundred and eighty undergraduates were presented one of four case vignettes that were identical, with the exception of the last paragraph in which the treatment history (sought help vs. did not seek help) and type of problem (depression vs. back pain) of the target were manipulated. Participants rated the target on various personality dimensions. An interaction between help-seeking behavior and problem type in perceptions of emotional instability was found. Specifically, whereas an individual experiencing depression was viewed as more emotionally unstable than one who had a back injury, the target who sought help for his depression was viewed as particularly unstable. The findings are discussed in the context of disorders that might go untreated due to stigmatization.
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People with depression have tended to be seen as more emotionally unstable, less worthy of sympathy, and responsible for causing their own problems compared with people with physical health problems.
“When compared with people with physical health problems, people with depression have tended to be seen as more emotionally unstable, less worthy of sympathy, and responsible for causing their own problems.[20][21][22]”
From Can a self-referral system help improve access to psychological treatments? (2010) · cites this paper as [20]
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References 33 · Cited by 128
- Authors
- Ben-Porath, D. D.
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2002-10
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 400-413
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2048140985
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 1.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- stigma, depression, help-seeking, psychotherapy, neuroticism, personality perception, untreated mental illness, case vignettes, back pain, public perception of mental illness
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