Informatics Publishing Limited

Suchandra Chakraborty ¹, Asmita Karmakar ², Aparajita Chakraborty ³, Anindita Mukherjee ⁴, Tapolagna Das ⁵, Manisha Bhattacharya ⁶, Atri Sanyal ⁷, Saranya Banerjee ², Anwista Ganguly ⁷, Urmimala Ghosh ⁸, Arumina Mitra ⁹, Jaspreet Kaur ¹⁰, Atanu Kumar Dogra ¹¹, Jishnu Bhattacharya ¹², Sanjukta Das ¹¹

Affiliations
1 MPhil Trainee Clinical Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
2 UGC Senior research fellow, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
3 Department of Psychology, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
4 Clinical Psychologist, Department of Health and family welfare, Govt of West Bengal, IN
5 Department of Psychology, Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Lagda, West Bengal, IN
6 Clinical Psychologist, Autism Society, West Bengal, IN
7 State aided college teacher, Department of Psychology, Maharani Kasiswari College, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
8 State Aided College Teacher, Department of Psychology, Maharani Kasiswari College, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
9 MPhil Trainee in Clinical Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
10 DPS, Joka, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
11 University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
12 Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
13 Neuropsychiatrist, Suri Sadar Hospital, West Bengal Health Service, Suri, Birbhum, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Identification and community based interventions of stigma are essential aspects of mental health. Considering this context, on the basis of theoretical conceptualization of stigma related to mental illness and current socio-cultural scenario, we attempted to construct a Bengali standardized scale to measure 'mental illness stigma in general population'. Initially, content of the fifty seven items were generated from experts' opinions under the domains of three components of stigma- 'stereotypes (cognitive knowledge structures), evoked emotions and attitudinal/behavioural consequences' with three point rating response category using vignettes(depicting any psychiatric disorder, here schizophrenia was considered). Then the scale was administered on 522 Bengali speaking, graduate participates (age range 25-40 years)for item analysis processes. Finally, 54 items were retained considering significant item total correlation and explored under components using exploratory factor analysis. Satisfactory test retest and internal consistency reliability were found for all domains of newly developed stigma scale.

Keywords

Stigma, Mental Illness, Scale, Mental Health.

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Aparajita Chakraborty ¹, Kalpojhoti Kashyap ², Atri Sanyal ³, Anwista Ganguly ³, Saranya Banerjee ⁴, Tapolagna Das ⁵, Urmimala Ghosh ⁶, Asmita Karmakar ⁴, Atanu Kumar Dogra ⁷

Affiliations
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
2 Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
3 State Aided College Teacher, Department of Psychology, Maharani Kasiswari College, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
4 UGC Senior Research Fellow, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
5 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Lagda, West Bengal, IN
6 UGC Junior Research Fellow, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
7 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Socio-demographic variables are important parameters of stigma towards people with alcohol use disorder. The present study explores whether the attitude towards alcohol use disorder is shaped by the belief system, along with focusing on the relationship between belief and attitude. It also investigates whether such attitude depends on the effects of sex and profession of the vignette, resulting in stigma. The study included 565 college-going students pursuing their graduation or post-graduation studies, age ranging 19 to 23 years. Participants were administered a Personal Information Schedule, Belief Towards Mental Illness Scale and Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire in modified form, consisting of short vignettes. A structured interview was conducted to explore the cause behind the differences in the attitude of the participants toward alcohol use disorder. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were done. The transcripts of the interview were qualitatively analysed in terms of Open and Focus Coding. Finding shows profession, sex and their interaction effect have significant impact on attitude towards alcohol use based on the story of vignettes. Association of dangerousness and poor interpersonal relationship skills with the negative attitude towards alcohol use disorder were found. Qualitative Analysis revealed the impact of socio-cultural and demographic factors, in shaping the participants' attitude towards alcohol use disorder. The present study reveals that socio-cultural and demographic variables determine the beliefs and attitudes, thereby resulting in the social discrimination, which need to be considered while designing therapeutic intervention.

Keywords

Alcohol Use Disorders, Attitude, Belief, Vignette, Socio-Cultural, Demographic.

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