Public Attitudes Towards People with Mental Health Problems: A Comparative Study of Ireland and Hungary

Kovacs, Vivien (2021) Public Attitudes Towards People with Mental Health Problems: A Comparative Study of Ireland and Hungary. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Aim: Research into attitudes towards people suffering from mental health problems indicate an issue of stigma around mental health in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries. Drawing from the Opinion About Mental Illness Scale, (est. 1962) this study aimed to compare the five factors of attitudes towards mental health issues across the Hungarian and Irish population. The hypotheses presented that the Irish population will have a more positive attitude towards people with mental health problems. Demographic variables were also taken into account as the other aim of the current study; gender differences in the five dimensions of stigmatizing attitudes was investigated.

Method: The Opinion About Mental Illness Scale was administered to participants (N=108) which was distributed across social media. These questions administered five attitudes: authoritarianism, benevolence, mental hygiene ideology, social restrictiveness and interpersonal etiology.

Results: Results indicated that overall the Irish population is holding a significantly more positive attitude towards people with mental health issues as compared to the Hungarian population, with the exception of benevolence. Practical implications are suggested for this. The current study did find a significant gender difference in the five factors of attitudes.

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggests interventions aimed at promoting positive attitudes towards mental health in Hungary. Implications of future research aims are also discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Stigma; Hungarian population; Irish population; Stereotypes; Negative and positive attitudes; Mental health
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D901 Europe (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Cognitive psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental Health
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	12 Aug 2021 14:41
Last Modified:	16 Sep 2021 15:18
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/4947

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