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Depression Stigma

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher Roth

    (University of Cologne and ECONtribute, MPI for Research on Collective Goods)

  • Peter Schwardmann

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Egon Tripodi

    (Hertie School of Governance)

Abstract

Throughout history, people with mental illness have been discriminated against and stigmatized. Our experiment provides a new measure of perceived depression stigma and then investigates the causal effect of perceived stigma on help-seeking in a sample of 1,844 Americans suffering from depression. A large majority of our participants overestimate the extent of stigma associated with depression. In contrast to prior correlational evidence, lowering perceived social stigma through an information intervention leads to a reduction in the demand for psychotherapy. A mechanism experiment reveals that this information increases optimism about future mental health, thereby reducing the perceived need for therapy.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Roth & Peter Schwardmann & Egon Tripodi, 2024. "Depression Stigma," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 286, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:286
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johannes Haushofer & Robert Mudida & Jeremy P. Shapiro, 2020. "The Comparative Impact of Cash Transfers and a Psychotherapy Program on Psychological and Economic Well-being," NBER Working Papers 28106, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Blattman, Christopher & Sheridan, Margaret A. Ph.D. & Jamison, Julian C. & Chaskel, Sebastian, 2022. "Cognitive behavior therapy reduces crime and violence over 10 years: Experimental evidence," SocArXiv q85ux, Center for Open Science.
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    4. Alexis Grigorieff & Christopher Roth & Diego Ubfal, 2020. "Does Information Change Attitudes Toward Immigrants?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(3), pages 1117-1143, June.
    5. Anselm Hager & Lukas Hensel & Johannes Hermle & Christopher Roth, 2023. "Political Activists as Free Riders: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(653), pages 2068-2084.
    6. Karlan, Dean & Barker, Nathan & Bryan, Gharad & Ofori-Atta, Angela & Udry, Christopher, 2021. "Mental Health Therapy as a Core Strategy for Increasing Human Capital: Evidence from Ghana," CEPR Discussion Papers 16640, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Sayantan Ghosal & Smarajit Jana & Anandi Mani & Sandip Mitra & Sanchari Roy, 2022. "Sex Workers, Stigma, and Self-Image: Evidence from Kolkata Brothels," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 104(3), pages 431-448, May.
    8. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer & Christopher Roth, 2018. "Measuring and Bounding Experimenter Demand," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(11), pages 3266-3302, November.
    9. Haaland, Ingar & Roth, Christopher, 2020. "Labor market concerns and support for immigration," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    10. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer, 2016. "Depression for Economists," NBER Working Papers 22973, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Moffitt, Robert, 1983. "An Economic Model of Welfare Stigma," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 73(5), pages 1023-1035, December.
    12. Christopher Blattman & Sebastian Chaskel & Julian C. Jamison & Margaret Sheridan, 2022. "Cognitive Behavior Therapy Reduces Crime and Violence over 10 Years: Experimental Evidence," NBER Working Papers 30049, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Yang, Dean & Allen, James & Mahumane, Arlete & Riddell, James & Yu, Hang, 2023. "Knowledge, stigma, and HIV testing: An analysis of a widespread HIV/AIDS program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
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    15. Saurabh Bhargava & Dayanand Manoli, 2015. "Psychological Frictions and the Incomplete Take-Up of Social Benefits: Evidence from an IRS Field Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(11), pages 3489-3529, November.
    16. Yu, Hang, 2023. "Social stigma as a barrier to HIV testing: Evidence from a randomized experiment in Mozambique," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Depression; Stigma; Information; Psychotherapy;
    All these keywords.

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