Stigmatizing attributions about mental illness

Work and housing opportunities of persons with psychosis, substance abuse d isorder and other mental illnesses are significantly hampered by societal s tigma. Earlier research by Weiner and colleagues (1988) examined stigmatizi ng attitudes associated with general health disabilities in terms of attrib utions about the controllability and stability of these disabilities. The r elevance of this model for describing attributions about four psychiatric d isorders is examined in this study. One hundred and fifty two adults rated four psychiatric groups (cocaine addiction, depression, psychosis, and ment al retardation) and two physical health groups (cancer and AIDS) on six ite ms corresponding with controllability and stability attributions. Findings from a factor analysis supported the distinction between controllability an d stability factors. Results also suggested that mental health disabilities were rated more negatively on these factors than physical disabilities. Pa rticipants clearly discriminated among mental health disabilities, with coc aine addiction rated most negative in terms of controllability and mental r etardation rated most negative in terms of stability. Attribution analyses provide useful information for changing the community's reactions to person s with mental illness. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.