Imagining Intergroup Contact Can Combat Mental Health Stigma by Reducing Anxiety, Avoidance and Negative Stereotyping Author Sofia Stathi, Katerina Tsantila, Richard Crisp Publication Year 2012 Type Journal Article Abstract Research has demonstrated widespread negative attitudes held toward people with mental health problems. Our study investigated whether a new prejudice reduction technique, imagined intergroup contact (Crisp & Turner, 2009), could combat stigma against people with mental illness, and the mediating processes through which it may exert this beneficial effect. We found that compared to a control condition, participants who imagined a positive encounter with a schizophrenic person reported weakened stereotypes and formed stronger intentions to engage in future social interactions with schizophrenic people in general. Importantly, these intentions were formed due to reduced feelings of anxiety about future interactions. We discuss the implications of these findings for improving the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.', 'Research has demonstrated widespread negative attitudes held toward people with mental health problems. Our study investigated whether a new prejudice reduction technique, imagined intergroup contact ( Crisp & Turner, 2009 ), could combat stigma against people with mental illness, and the mediating processes through which it may exert this beneficial effect. We found that compared to a control condition, participants who imagined a positive encounter with a schizophrenic person reported weakened stereotypes and formed stronger intentions to engage in future social interactions with schizophrenic people in general. Importantly, these intentions were formed due to reduced feelings of anxiety about future interactions. We discuss the implications of these findings for improving the social inclusion of people with mental health problems. Keywords intergroup contact, mental health, anxiety, avoidance Journal The Journal of Social Psychology Volume 152 Pages 746–757 Type of Article Journal Article DOI 10.1080/00224545.2012.697080 Full text The following is an excerpt of the intervention methodology. For more information, please see the full text of the article on the publisher's website or through your institution's library. Participants and Design The sample consisted of 57 students from the University of Kent in the south east of England (36 women and 21 men), aged between 18 and 48 years old (M = 22.49, SD = 4.87). The participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions (control versus imagined contact). [...] Procedure [...] Specifically, in the imagined contact condition, participants were instructed the following: [Verbal Stimulus A]. [...] Thus, to equate this study with previous research, in this experiment we used the standard no-contact control scene used in previous research. Specifically, in the control condition participants were instructed, [Verbal Stimulus B]. After timing the participants for one minute, and in order to reinforce the impact of the manipulation, the participants were asked to write down what they previously imagined in as much detail as possible. Dependent Measures Intergroup anxiety. Participants were asked to determine the extent to which they would feel awkward, happy, self-conscious, competent, and relaxed, if they were to meet a person with schizophrenia in the future. A Likert scale was used ranging from 1 (not at all) to 7 (very). [...] Stereotyping of people with schizophrenia. A 13-item scale measuring the degree of stereotyping of people with schizophrenia was used. Respondents were asked to indicate on a Likert scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (very much) how much they believed each item was typical of people with schizophrenia in general, for example unpredictable, frightening, hard to talk to, [...]. Intentions for future contact. Participants were asked to answer using a 9-point Likert scale, from 1 (not at all) to 9 (very) to the following questions: “How important do you think it is to learn more about people with schizophrenia and mental health problems?”; “How willing would you be to participate in a discussion group that includes students and people with schizophrenia that will focus on issues of stigmatization and mental health problems in the UK?”; “Thinking about the next time you find yourself in a situation where you could interact with a person with schizophrenia (e.g., queuing for a bus, with friends in a cafe, etc.), how likely do you think it is that you would strike up a conversation?”; “How interested would you be in striking up a conversation?”; “How much do you think you would like to strike up a conversation?” [...]. Type of Prejudice/Bias Ability Country United Kingdom Method Lab Setting College/University Google ScholarDOIBibTeX