Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations
Can Social Media Contact Reduce Stigma? Promoting Empathy with the Art and Writing of People Experiencing Mental Illness
Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Psychology/Clinical
First Advisor
Catherine Stein (Committee Chair)
Second Advisor
Brooks Vostal (Other)
Third Advisor
Dryw Dworsky (Committee Member)
Fourth Advisor
Dale Klopfer (Committee Member)
Abstract
Stigmatization of people experiencing mental illness remains prevalent in the United States. Social stigma can result in negative outcomes for people with mental illness such as limited access to housing and employment and reduced well-being. Both social contact interventions and art exhibits may reduce stigma towards mental illness, and art making may increase feelings of self-efficacy and belongingness among people with mental illness. The present mixed methods research examined the perspectives of both artists who post their work and potential viewers in online interactions about art and mental illness intended to reduce stigma. Study 1 used qualitative interview methods with artists experiencing mental illness who post publicly about their experiences on Instagram (N = 17). Themes from interviews related broadly to art (History and Identity as an Artist, Art Career, and Art and Mental Health), mental health (Symptoms, External Barriers, Protective Factors, and Treatment), and social media (Benefits and Motivations, Risks, and Online Disclosure). Study 2 consisted of a randomized controlled trial of an asynchronous, online social contact intervention to reduce stigma towards mental illness (N = 318). Groups 1-3 viewed intervention posts created by Study 1 artists about mental illness (art and writing posts, art-only posts, or writing-only posts) and Group 4 viewed matched comparison posts not about mental illness. Study 2 results showed that participants in the intervention groups reported significantly higher mental health awareness, general sympathy, and appreciation for people with mental illness than those in the comparison group. All groups had a significant decrease in prejudice. Participants’ perceptions of posts as confusing or compelling mediated the relationship between the type of post and their ratings of state empathy. Implications for the development of cost-effective online interventions to reduce stigma towards mental illness are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Griffith, Frances J., "Can Social Media Contact Reduce Stigma? Promoting Empathy with the Art and Writing of People Experiencing Mental Illness" (2023). Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations. 263.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/psychology_diss/263