Stigmatizing conceptions towards people with mental disorders. Quantitative study in health professionals of a university hospital, Córdoba, Argentina.

Abstract

In recent years, interest is beginning to focus on the effect of stigmatization in mental health on health professionals, an interest that had initially focused on the general population. Some studies indicate more positive conceptions than the general public, although paternalistic or authoritarian attitudes are frequent, especially in terms of prognosis and in relation to the chances of recovery of people with mental illness. It has been found that professionals consider these people to be violent, that they manifest a desire for social distancing, doubts about their ability to adapt socially, negative expectations of recovery, and even that stigmatizing attitudes become more acute as their training progresses.The objective was to identify stigmatizing conceptions towards people with mental disorders in health professionals.

A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional research was conducted between August 2022 and March 2023, using validated scales to determine cognitive, attitudinal and emotional aspects towards people with mental health conditions. Personal data protection was ensured, a questionnaire coding system was used, informed consent was obtained, and the study was evaluated and approved by the CIEIS-FCM for research on human subjects. The sample consisted of 111 active professionals from different disciplines of a university hospital in Cordoba, Argentina.

Preliminary results show that the greater the proximity (contact with children, family, neighbors) the less comfortable (p=.001), the greater the ideas of danger the older the person is (p = .014) and the more years of professional practice (p < .001). Feelings of help, coercion and social restriction prevail in all groups, with differences in those who have had enough subjects from the rest (p = .002) in dimensions of dangerousness, segregation and avoidance.

Indicators of stigmatization are identified in all three dimensions. And social distance, segregation and ideas of dangerousness associated with the number of subjects, age and years of professional practice.