|
Health experts agree that reducing the stigma associated withadolescent mental illness is an essential step toward increasingthe number of teenagers who seek the help they need. But, say researchers at Case Western Reserve in the Journal of Nursing Measurement , the relative dearth of data regarding stigma in this age groupmakes tackling the topic particularly tough. Not only is adolescent mental health stigma rarely studied, but even less is known about the accuracyof measures used to assess it. Explained Melissa Pinto, PhD, RN, KL2 Clinical Research Scholar andinstructor of nursing at the university's Frances Payne BoltonSchool of Nursing: "We need to find a reliable and valid way tomeasure the presence of stigma associated with mental illness amongadolescents." Pinto and her colleagues sought to begin that process by testing anexisting measure among more than 200 teenagers in the southernUnited States. Their article about the assessment, "PsychometricEvaluation of the Revised Attribution Questionnaire (r-AQ) toMeasure Mental Illness Stigma in Adolescents," appears in theyear's first issue of the journal. Based on this first sample, theauthors concluded that this questionnaire could be consideredreliable and valid for this age group. Still, they urge additionalassessments among more diverse groups located throughout thecountry. Determining the true value of such measures in advance, theresearchers argue, is a key first step in acting to help teensunderstand the wisdom of seeking assistance when troubled by mentalillness. Research has shown that young people in these straitsoften are so concerned about the perceptions of peers and othersimportant in their social network that they forgo treatment that isbeneficial. Young people pick up cues about what is acceptable and unacceptablefrom those around them, Pinto said. If teens believe friends willdistance themselves if their struggles with mental illness becomeknown, they will endure the consequences and risks of diseasewithout asking for assistance. But if peers seem accepting, thenchances increase that teens with mental illness will seek help. The researchers administered the self-report survey to 210 studentsbetween the ages of 13 and 18 from southern public and private highschools. The survey measured an important component of stigma, theemotional reaction to a person with mental illness. This isimportant because emotional reactions to persons with mentalillness are associated with how easy or difficult it is to sociallyinteract with others and discriminating behaviors. Administeringthe survey again, the results were validated with another group ofstudents. "The Revised Attribution Questionnaire was found to be a reliableand valid measure among this group of adolescents. Having measuresof that reliable and validity give us confidence when we dointerventions with teens to decrease stigma that changes we are seeare actually changes and not an artifact of the measure.Specifically, This measure holds promise to be used in interventionstudies to determine if our interventions work, Pinto said. She added that it is the first time the Revised AttributionQuestionnaire is found to be both reliable and valid in assessingstigma associated with mental illness in adolescents. The idea behind changing attitudes about mental illness is to getteens help they need. "If untreated, illnesses, like depression and mood disorders, tend to reoccur and become chronic," Pintosaid. The onset of a mental illness often comes before the age of 25.Hiding the disease, adolescents suffer negative consequences fortheir silence from delinquency from school, substance abuseproblems, unwanted pregnancies, struggles at work to suicide.. "Mental illness is like other diseases, with treatment, people canrecovery. Creating a social culture where people feel comfortablegetting treatment and talking about the illness with others who cansupport them is a vital initial step that can help people getbetter," Pinto said. Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Accessory Belt Tensioner , Shock Absorber for Cars Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Upper Lower Ball Joint.
Related Articles -
Accessory Belt Tensioner, Shock Absorber for Cars Manufacturer,
|
