
@article{ref1,
title="The effects of pity on self- and other-perceptions of mental illness",
journal="Psychiatry research",
year="2016",
author="Fominaya, Adam W. and Corrigan, Patrick W. and Rüsch, Nicolas",
volume="241",
number="",
pages="159-164",
abstract="Previous research has demonstrated that pity may have a positive influence on public perceptions of individuals with a mental illness but has not adequately addressed the potential negative impacts of pity perceptions. Seventy-five research participants with serious mental illness completed measures of pity, public stigma, shame, hopelessness, personal empowerment, self-esteem, depression, and quality of life at baseline. Measures of hopelessness, personal empowerment, self-esteem, and depression were repeated six months later. Bivariate correlations found significant associations between pity and &quot;other&quot; effects of stigma including dangerousness, fear, segregation, avoidance and perceived stigma. Baseline pity was significantly correlated with self-effects of stigma such as shame, hopelessness, lower empowerment, lower self-esteem, depression, and decreased quality of life. At six-month follow-up, baseline pity was still associated with increased hopelessness and depression along with decreased empowerment and self-esteem. Anger, avoidance, perceived stigma, shame, and self-esteem were significantly related to pity in multiple linear regressions. Outcomes of path analyses suggest that the significant positive relationship between pity at baseline and depression at six-month follow-up was mediated by self-esteem and hopelessness. Individuals who view mental illness with pity experience negative self- and other-effects of stigma. These effects persist 6-months later. These findings have important implications for stigma-reducing advertising programs.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-1781",
doi="10.1016/j.psychres.2016.04.058",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.04.058"
}