RESUMO
Previous research suggests that, despite the commonality of mental illness in the United States, the majority of U.S. individuals with mental illness do not seek treatment. One important factor that contributes to this lack of treatment utilization is mental illness stigma. Such stigma may result, in part, from many individuals in the U.S. underestimating the prevalence of mental illness. To test whether this is the case, 638 adults from across the U.S. completed measures related to perceived prevalence of mental illness, private stigma, perceived public stigma, and help-seeking. Findings indicated participants significantly underestimated the given-year prevalence rate of mental illness. The perceived given-year prevalence rate was significantly correlated with lower private stigma and more positive attitudes towards help-seeking. Personal stigma significantly predicted attitudes towards help-seeking. Findings also suggested that individuals who have received mental health services have a higher perceived prevalence rate of mental illness, as well as lower levels of personal stigma and more positive attitudes towards help-seeking. These findings support the notion that helping the general public recognize the true prevalence rate of mental illness could reduce personal mental illness stigma and facilitate help-seeking behaviors. However, future experimental studies are needed to test this hypothesis.
RESUMO
Background: Conflict has deleterious effects on the adjustment of children, adolescence, and emerging adults. The literature is less robust on the adverse effects of conflict avoidance on adjustment as well as the beneficial effect of resolution in these age groups. The literature is markedly sparser on these relationships in adults. Method: We recruited N = 1471 US adults between 18 and 86 years old (M = 33.94, SD = 11.67). They primarily identified as White with 51% holding at least a bachelor's degree. Participants responded to the Perceived Family Conflict Subscale, Avoidant Conflict Scale, the Family Conflict Resolution Scale, and the Langner Symptom Survey. Results: A MANOVA modeling the four variables demonstrated a significant difference based on sex for the measure of distress and need for treatment (Mwomen = 5.31, Mmen = 3.93, p < .001). Separate analyses for men and women yielded the same pattern for each sex. Specifically, low conflict groups, as well as low conflict avoidance groups, scored significantly lower on a measure of distress than the high conflict and conflict avoidance group. For conflict resolution, the high groups scored significantly lower on distress than did the low resolution group. Discussion: The deleterious effect of conflict and conflict avoidance were found in both adult men and women, thereby extending results found in children, teens, and young adults. Similarly, the beneficial effect of conflict resolution manifest in adult men and women, which had been found in young adults. Interventions aimed at reducing conflict avoidance and increasing conflict resolution skills should theoretically reduce stress.
