How does immigration status affect the public stigma of behavioral health disorders?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look specifically at the intersection between behavioral health and immigration stigma.

Design/methodology/approach

In April of 2017, 256 US participants answered an online solicitation on MTurk to answer questions regarding perceptions of others. Participants were randomized to one of four vignettes which had conditions representing diagnosis (drug abuse vs brain cancer) and immigration status (naturalized citizen vs undocumented immigrant).

Findings

Drug abuse was significantly disdained and blamed more than brain cancer. A main effect was also found for immigration status for disdain. Interaction between diagnosis and immigration status was significant for blame, but undocumented status increased the blame of students with brain cancer, the opposite condition the authors expected.

Originality/value

The study validated previously tested hypotheses, namely, people with behavioral health challenges are highly stigmatized being disdained and blamed for their conditions more than people with brain cancer. The study tested intersectionality by examining the hypothesis that undocumented immigration status worsens stigmatizing views of people with behavioral health conditions.

Citation

Corrigan, P., Hafeez, M. and Alkhouja, M. (2018), "How does immigration status affect the public stigma of behavioral health disorders?", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 195-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-04-2018-0026