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Relationship Between Socio-demographic Variables and Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill

Received: 30 April 2016    Accepted: 10 May 2016    Published: 26 May 2016
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Abstract

This prospective study was designed to identify if there is any relationship between socio-demographic variables and social distance towards the mentally ill. It was carried out at the Madonna University Teaching Hospital over a 10 month period. Two hundred and sixty nine consenting subjects were enlisted in the study. However, only 254 completed it. The 254 subjects comprise 87 males (34.3%) and 167 females (65.7%). The minimum MBSDS score of 7 and the maximum of 35 were recorded in the study. It was established that there is significant association between literacy and MBSDS score. Literate subjects showed lesser MBSDS score compared to illiterate ones. Younger patients (less than 45yrs old) showed higher MBSDS scores on the average compared with older patients. The cause, management and eventual outcome of a patient's mental illness are greatly hampered by social stigma. Sustained public education and sustained advocacy against stigma towards the mentally ill cannot be overemphasized.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14
Page(s) 52-56
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Socio-demographic, Relationship, Mentally Ill, Stigma

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald, Chukwujekwu Chioma Judith, Olose Emmanuel Omamurhomu. (2016). Relationship Between Socio-demographic Variables and Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 4(3), 52-56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14

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    ACS Style

    Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald; Chukwujekwu Chioma Judith; Olose Emmanuel Omamurhomu. Relationship Between Socio-demographic Variables and Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2016, 4(3), 52-56. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14

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    AMA Style

    Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald, Chukwujekwu Chioma Judith, Olose Emmanuel Omamurhomu. Relationship Between Socio-demographic Variables and Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2016;4(3):52-56. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14,
      author = {Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald and Chukwujekwu Chioma Judith and Olose Emmanuel Omamurhomu},
      title = {Relationship Between Socio-demographic Variables and Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3},
      pages = {52-56},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20160403.14},
      abstract = {This prospective study was designed to identify if there is any relationship between socio-demographic variables and social distance towards the mentally ill. It was carried out at the Madonna University Teaching Hospital over a 10 month period. Two hundred and sixty nine consenting subjects were enlisted in the study. However, only 254 completed it. The 254 subjects comprise 87 males (34.3%) and 167 females (65.7%). The minimum MBSDS score of 7 and the maximum of 35 were recorded in the study. It was established that there is significant association between literacy and MBSDS score. Literate subjects showed lesser MBSDS score compared to illiterate ones. Younger patients (less than 45yrs old) showed higher MBSDS scores on the average compared with older patients. The cause, management and eventual outcome of a patient's mental illness are greatly hampered by social stigma. Sustained public education and sustained advocacy against stigma towards the mentally ill cannot be overemphasized.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Relationship Between Socio-demographic Variables and Social Distance Towards the Mentally Ill
    AU  - Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald
    AU  - Chukwujekwu Chioma Judith
    AU  - Olose Emmanuel Omamurhomu
    Y1  - 2016/05/26
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14
    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JF  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    SP  - 52
    EP  - 56
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-426X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20160403.14
    AB  - This prospective study was designed to identify if there is any relationship between socio-demographic variables and social distance towards the mentally ill. It was carried out at the Madonna University Teaching Hospital over a 10 month period. Two hundred and sixty nine consenting subjects were enlisted in the study. However, only 254 completed it. The 254 subjects comprise 87 males (34.3%) and 167 females (65.7%). The minimum MBSDS score of 7 and the maximum of 35 were recorded in the study. It was established that there is significant association between literacy and MBSDS score. Literate subjects showed lesser MBSDS score compared to illiterate ones. Younger patients (less than 45yrs old) showed higher MBSDS scores on the average compared with older patients. The cause, management and eventual outcome of a patient's mental illness are greatly hampered by social stigma. Sustained public education and sustained advocacy against stigma towards the mentally ill cannot be overemphasized.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Department of Educational Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Department of Psychiatry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

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