Risk Behavior
Development Lab
BPD Stigma Study
A great deal of research has demonstrated the presence of stigma towards individuals with mental illness. Individuals with this disorder are often perceived negatively, with people describing them as manipulative, dangerous and unlikely to change. These perceptions have been shown to have severe consequences for the treatment outcomes of these individuals. We are interested in examining attitudes towards individuals with mental illnesses and how these attitudes may differ depending on certain demographic characteristics. For instance, scant literature has examined how client characteristics such as gender and age might impact attitudes. Our lab is also interested in examining the factors associated with these attitudes among different populations including both peers and clinicians who provide mental health services.
We have completed data collection on the first of a series of online studies examining this topic. This study used a vignette design to evaluate attitudes among college age peers of young adults with BPD. We are currently working on a second survey that will be administered to treatment providers and will assess the clinician-level factors that influence attitudes.