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Publication
Representations of depression and schizophrenia in the community: The role of illness and risk perceptions on help-seeking intentions
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Objective: Illness perceptions (IPs) are important in understanding human
reactions to illnesses, including mental health disorders. They influence risk
perceptions and several variables relevant to the adjustment to a disorder,
treatment seeking, and health outcomes. This study sought to compare IP,
risk perception, and help-seeking intention for depression and schizophrenia
in a community sample and to assess the mediating role of risk perception in
the relationship between IP and help-seeking intention.
Materials and methods: A total of 380 adults participated in this study and
filled out self-report measures of IPs, risk perceptions, and help-seeking
intention. The previous diagnosis of depression was used to control the
comparisons between the two disorders. A structural equation model (SEM)
was used to test the mediation relationship.
Results: Perceived consequences, expected timeline, lack of personal control,
and symptom identity were higher for schizophrenia, while lack of treatment
control and concern were higher for depression. An interaction occurred with
a previous diagnosis of depression for several dimensions of IP. Concerning
the SEM, a valid model was obtained for depression, explaining 15.5% of helpseeking intentions, but not for schizophrenia.
Conclusion: The results show that the general population represents
depression and schizophrenia differently. These representations are
influenced by having experienced depression, and that illness and risk
perceptions contribute to explaining the intention to seek help. Considering
these illness representations makes it possible to understand the general
population’s emotional and cognitive reactions to mental health disorders.
Description
Keywords
Illness perceptions Risk perceptions Help-seeking Depression Schizophrenia
Citation
Neto DD, Figueiras MJ and Sebastião R (2022) Representations of depression and schizophrenia in the community: The role of illness and risk perceptions on help-seeking intentions. Frontiers. Psychology. 13:1011195. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1011195
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.