Abstract

Much research suggests mental health diagnoses elicit stigmatization of individuals. The current study builds upon this literature at the intersection of same- and cross-race perceptions. Black and White participants viewed Black and White targets paired with either a mental health diagnosis (e.g., depression), a physical health diagnosis (e.g., high blood pressure), or no health information (control) while indicating each target’s favorability and how much social distance they would want from them. Overall, people were more stigmatizing toward targets with a mental health diagnosis than a physical health diagnosis or no diagnosis. Black targets with a mental health diagnosis were stigmatized more than White targets with a mental health diagnosis and White participants displayed a greater aversion to Black targets with a mental health diagnosis than did Black participants. Results contribute to the mental health stigma literature and suggest it may be particularly problematic for White perceivers’ attitudes toward Black individuals with mental health diagnoses. Findings may shed light on the racial differences in treatment-seeking amongst Black and White individuals.

摘要

许多研究表明，心理健康诊断会引起对个人的污名化。目前的研究建立在同种和跨种族观念交汇处的文献基础上。黑人和白人参与者观看了与心理健康诊断（例如抑郁症）、身体健康诊断（例如高血压）或没有健康信息（控制）配对的黑人和白人目标，同时指出每个目标的好感度和社交程度他们希望与他们保持距离。总的来说，与身体健康诊断或没有诊断相比，人们对有心理健康诊断的目标的污名化程度更高。有心理健康诊断的黑人目标比有心理健康诊断的白人目标更容易受到污名化，白人参与者比黑人参与者对有心理健康诊断的黑人目标表现出更大的厌恶。结果有助于心理健康耻辱文献，并表明白人感知者对有心理健康诊断的黑人个体的态度可能特别成问题。调查结果可能会揭示黑人和白人在寻求治疗方面的种族差异。