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Similar to Overestimated Stigma: Treatment Seeking Implications and Social Costs; Plain Language Summary
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Overestimated Stigma: Treatment Seeking Implications and Social Costs; Plain Language Summary
- 1. Overestimated Stigma: Treatment Seeking Implications and Social Costs Claire E. Baxter, PhD Candidate & Dr. Ian R. Newby-‐Clark Department of Psychology University of Guelph Poster presented at the 28th National Conference on Problem Gambling in Orlando, Florida on Friday, July 10th, 2014. Plain Language Summary Introduction Two studies investigated whether problem gamblers overestimate the stigma toward seeking treatment for problem gambling and whether stigma impacts problem gamblers’ day-‐to-‐day social interactions. Study One - Method Study one was an online survey conducted through Amazon Mechanical Turk with 1706 participants from across the globe. Participants first completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Participants who were identified as non-‐problem gamblers through the PGSI read a description of Sam, who was described as either a low-‐risk, moderate-‐risk or problem gambler and rated the extent to which they would stigmatize Sam. Participants who were identified as either low-‐risk, moderate-‐risk or problem gamblers (LMPGs), predicted how non-‐problem gamblers (NPGs) would rate a person (Sam) in the same category as themselves. Study One – Results Low-‐risk, moderate-‐risk and problem gamblers (LMPGs) significantly perceived more stigma toward seeking treatment for problem gambling than was indicated by non-‐ problem gamblers. LMPGs also significantly underestimated the extent to which NPGs thought they should seek treatment. Study Two – Method Study two was an in-‐lab study. Two participants came to the lab at one time. Each time a non-‐problem gambler was partnered with either a low-‐risk, moderate-‐ risk or problem gambler (participants completed the PGSI before coming to the lab). Participants never knew their partner’s score. Participants were randomly assigned to a stigma or nonstigma condition. In the stigma condition, participants were privately told their PGSI score in the beginning of the session. In the nonstigma condition, participants were provided their score at the very end of the study.
- 2. In both conditions, participants had a 15-‐minute conversation with their partner that was audio and video recorded. Before a conversation with their partner, participants rated how much social distance (a form of stigma) they anticipated from their partner. After the interaction, participants rated how much social distance they actually experienced. Study Two – Results Before the interaction, low-‐risk, moderate-‐risk and problem gamblers anticipated greater social distance from their partner in the stigma condition compared to the nonstigma condition. Non-‐problem gamblers anticipated less social distance from their partner in the stigma condition. After the interaction, most participants perceived less social distance than before the interaction. *These data in study two are still being collected. These are non-significant trends. The final analysis will analyze these results by individual PGSI category. Discussion Low Risk, Moderate Risk, and Problems Gamblers: • Overestimated stigma toward seeking treatment • Underestimated the extent to which others thought they should seek treatment • May have anticipated stigma in social interactions Actual stigma is a known barrier to treatment seeking for problem gambling (Rockloff & Schofield, 2004). Thus, an overestimation of stigma is particularly problematic. Further, stigma not only impacts gambling related activities, but also may even impact day-‐ to-‐day social interactions. Anti-‐stigma campaigns may not only reduce actual stigma, but also perceived stigma in the eyes of the problem gambler. References Ferris, J., & Wynne, H. (2001). The Canadian problem gambling index: Final report. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Link, B. G., Phelan, J. C., Bresnahan, M., Stueve, A., Pescosolido, B. A. (1999). Public conceptions of mental illness: Labels, casuses, dangerousness, and social distance. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1328-‐1333. Rockloff, M. J., & Schofield, G. (2004). Factor analysis of barrier to treatment for problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 20(2), 121-‐126. Vogel, D. L., Wade, N. G., & Haake, S. (2006). Measuring the self-‐stigma associated with seeking psychological help. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(3), 2006.