The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources
Abstract Stigmatization of depression serves as a significant barrier to both treatment-seeking behaviors and recovery outcomes. While the Continuum Beliefs Approach (CBA) has shown promise in reducing explicit stigma, its impact on implicit attitudes remains unclear. Participants were randomly assi...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95723-2 |
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| author | Xuanyi Wang Qiuyu Lv Minghui Lu Weiguo Qu |
| author_facet | Xuanyi Wang Qiuyu Lv Minghui Lu Weiguo Qu |
| author_sort | Xuanyi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Stigmatization of depression serves as a significant barrier to both treatment-seeking behaviors and recovery outcomes. While the Continuum Beliefs Approach (CBA) has shown promise in reducing explicit stigma, its impact on implicit attitudes remains unclear. Participants were randomly assigned to continuum beliefs, categorical beliefs, or control groups. Explicit stigma was measured through questionnaires (n = 323) and implicit stigma were assessed using the Single Category Implicit Association Test (n = 252). Results revealed that the continuum beliefs group exhibited significantly lower explicit stigma across cognitive (negative stereotypes), affective (prejudicial affective reactions), and behavioral (social distance acceptance) dimensions. However, no between-group differences emerged for implicit stigma, with participants across all groups demonstrating significant implicit stigma toward depression. While continuum belief interventions effectively reduce explicit stigma, they appear insufficient to modify the deeply ingrained automatic biases that constitute implicit stigma toward depression. These findings highlight the complexity of stigma reduction efforts and the limitations of brief interventions in modifying implicit stigma towards depression. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-def39d08eb8e47bfba7b09aa9119cc00 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-def39d08eb8e47bfba7b09aa9119cc002025-08-20T02:17:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-95723-2The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sourcesXuanyi Wang0Qiuyu Lv1Minghui Lu2Weiguo Qu3Department of Psychology and Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal UniversityMedical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal UniversityAbstract Stigmatization of depression serves as a significant barrier to both treatment-seeking behaviors and recovery outcomes. While the Continuum Beliefs Approach (CBA) has shown promise in reducing explicit stigma, its impact on implicit attitudes remains unclear. Participants were randomly assigned to continuum beliefs, categorical beliefs, or control groups. Explicit stigma was measured through questionnaires (n = 323) and implicit stigma were assessed using the Single Category Implicit Association Test (n = 252). Results revealed that the continuum beliefs group exhibited significantly lower explicit stigma across cognitive (negative stereotypes), affective (prejudicial affective reactions), and behavioral (social distance acceptance) dimensions. However, no between-group differences emerged for implicit stigma, with participants across all groups demonstrating significant implicit stigma toward depression. While continuum belief interventions effectively reduce explicit stigma, they appear insufficient to modify the deeply ingrained automatic biases that constitute implicit stigma toward depression. These findings highlight the complexity of stigma reduction efforts and the limitations of brief interventions in modifying implicit stigma towards depression.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95723-2Continuum beliefsPublic stigma of depressionSingle category implicit association test (SC-IAT) |
| spellingShingle | Xuanyi Wang Qiuyu Lv Minghui Lu Weiguo Qu The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources Scientific Reports Continuum beliefs Public stigma of depression Single category implicit association test (SC-IAT) |
| title | The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources |
| title_full | The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources |
| title_fullStr | The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources |
| title_short | The effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources |
| title_sort | effect of continuum beliefs on public stigma of depression with evidence from explicit and implicit sources |
| topic | Continuum beliefs Public stigma of depression Single category implicit association test (SC-IAT) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95723-2 |
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