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. 2023 Apr;58(4):681-684.
doi: 10.1007/s00127-023-02423-1. Epub 2023 Jan 28.

Roles of perception of similarities, continuum beliefs, and social distance toward a person with schizophrenia: a German sample study

V Buckwitz  1   2 , V Juergensen  3 , M Göbel  3 , G Schomerus  3 , S Speerforck  3
Affiliations

Roles of perception of similarities, continuum beliefs, and social distance toward a person with schizophrenia: a German sample study

V Buckwitz et al. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Continuum beliefs (CB) interventions aim to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia by stating that people with and without schizophrenia exist on one mental health-illness continuum. The current study examines the interrelation between perception of similarities (PoS), CB and desire for social distance (SD) in a German population sample (N = 760). Applying linear regression models: PoS and CB were significantly associated with lower SD explaining about 12% variance and PoS was significantly associated with higher CB. CB partially mediated the relation of PoS and SD. Upcoming mental illness stigma interventions applying CB interventions should also aim to increase PoS.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediation model of Continuum Beliefs (CB) and Perception of Similarities (PoS) predicting Desire for Social Distance (SD) Effect of mediation and all shown path coefficients are significant. Effect of mediation equals β = − 0.05, CI95 [− 0.08, − 0.03]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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