Impact of metastereotypes on self-disclosure of mental health status
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does meta-stereotype activation impact rejection-expectation when considering self-disclosure of mental health status?
IRAS ID
212897
Contact name
Mia Foxhall
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
Research shows that self-stigma (i.e. agreeing with and applying stereotypes to yourself) from having a mental health diagnosis can reduce self-esteem, quality of life and social support. Having a choice about when, how and who to tell a diagnosis to can reduce this by giving back power and encouraging enjoyable social interactions, but can be difficult if someone expects to be treated negatively. This might be affected by the way someone expects another person without a mental health diagnosis to stereotype them; these are called ‘meta-stereotypes’ and are usually negative. The project aims to explore whether meta-stereotypes are activated when thinking of telling someone about a mental health diagnosis, and whether this affects self-esteem and expectations of rejection. If this is true, it may explain why some avoid telling others about their diagnosis and may help offer targets for interventions designed to increase this.\n\nIn Phase 1, a questionnaire to measure meta-stereotype activation will be developed by recruiting 6-8 people from the PPE (People with Previous Experience) network at University of Bath for a brief interview about the meta-stereotypes they hold. An online version of the questionnaire will be created and a minimum of 40 people (aged 18 years or over) will be recruited from internet forums to check the meta-stereotypes are realistic.\n\nIn Phase 2, 41 people over the age of 18 with a clinical diagnosis of psychosis will be recruited from local mental health services. If suitable and consenting, participants will complete two conditions: imagining someone they would like to tell their diagnosis to who has positive attitude towards mental health, or negative attitudes towards mental health. Participants will then complete measures of meta-stereotype activation, self-esteem and rejection-expectation. After a ‘filler’ task (to distract participants), they complete the second condition and repeat the measures.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
16/WA/0373
Date of REC Opinion
8 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion