Correlates of explicit and implicit stigmatizing attitudes of Canadian undergraduate university students toward mental illness: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

To assess explicit and implicit attitudes toward mental illness of undergraduate students and explore associated variables. <b>Participants</b>: Year 1-4 undergraduate students from a large Canadian university (<i>n</i> = 382). <b>Methods</b>: Participants completed demographics, the Opening Minds Scale for Healthcare Providers, and an Implicit Association Test. Two-tailed independent and paired-samples <i>t</i>-tests, and ANOVA were performed with significance level at <i>p</i> < .05. <b>Results</b>: About 67.5% self-reported having experienced a mental illness and 31.2% had been diagnosed. Lower explicit stigma was associated with females, those with a history of mental illness diagnosis, and those who have had a close relationship with someone experiencing a mental illness. Faculty of Social Sciences students had significantly lower explicit stigma scores than Faculty of Engineering students. Implicit stigma did not show significant associations with any factors. <b>Conclusions</b>: A high proportion of undergraduate students experience mental illness. Increased exposure and experience were associated with reduced explicit stigma.