The Stigma of Mental Illness and the Way of Destigmatization: The Effects of Interactivity and Self-Construal
Some believe that stigma is the worst side effect of the
people who have mental illness. Mental illness researchers have
focused on the influence of mass media on the stigmatization of the
people with mental illness. However, no studies have investigated the
effects of the interactive media, such as blogs, on the stigmatization
of mentally ill people, even though the media have a significant
influence on people in all areas of life. The purpose of this study is to
investigate the use of interactivity in destigmatization of the mentally
ill and the moderating effect of self-construal (independent versus
interdependent self-construal) on the relation between interactivity
and destigmatization. The findings suggested that people in the
human-human interaction condition had less social distance toward
people with mental illness. Additionally, participants with higher
independence showed more favorable affection and less social
distance toward mentally ill people. Finally, direct contact with
mentally ill people increased a person-s positive affect toward people
with mental illness. The current study should provide insights for
mental health practitioners by suggesting how they can use
interactive media to approach the public that stigmatizes the mentally
ill.
[1] M. C. Angermeyer, and M. Herbert, "The Effect of Violent Attack by
Schizophrenic Persons on The Attitude of the Public towards the
Mentally Ill," Social Science and Medicine, vol. 43, no. 12, pp.1721-
1728, 1996.
[2] C. M. Bahk, "Drench Effects of Media Portrayal of Fatal Virus Disease
on Health Locus of Control Beliefs," Health Communication, vol. 13,
no. 2, pp. 187-204, 2001.
[3] G. Domino, "Impact of the Film: One Flew over the Cuckoo-s Nest on
Attitudes towards Mental Illness," Psychological Reports, vol. 53, pp.
179-182, 1983.
[4] D. H. Granello, P. S. Pauley, and A. Carmichael, "Relationship of the
Media to Attitudes toward People with Mental Illness," Theory and
Research, vol. 38, pp. 98-109, 1999.
[5] P. W. Corrigan, A. Green, R. Lundin, M. A. Kubiak, and D. L. Penn,
"Familiarity with and Social Distance from People Who Have Serious
Mental Illness," Psychiatric Services, vol. 52, no. 7, pp. 953-958, 2001.
[6] D. L. Diefenbach, and M. D. West, "Television and Attitudes toward
Mental Health Issues: Cultivation analysis and The Third-person
Effect," Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 181-195,
2007.
[7] D. H. Granello, and P. S. Pauley, "Television Viewing Habits and Their
Relationship to Tolerance Toward People with Mental Illness," Journal
of Mental Health Counseling, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 162-175, 2000.
[8] M. C. Angermeyer, S. Dietrich, and M. Herbert, "Media Consumption
and Desire for Social Distance towards People with Schizophrenia,"
European Psychiatry, vol. 20, 246-250, 2005.
[9] A. Bandura, "Social Learning Theory of Aggression," Journal of
Communication, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 12-29, 1978.
[10] S. Dietrich, D. Heider, H. Matschinger, and M. C. Angermeyer,
"Influence of Newspaper Reporting on Adolescents- Attitudes Toward
People with Mental Illness," Social Psychiatry Psychiaty Epidemiol, vol.
41, pp. 318-322, 2006.
[11] M. Morgan, and N. Signorielli, Cultivation Analysis: New Directions in
Media Effects Research. Newbury, California, 1990. Ch. 1.
[12] R. Wood, and A. Bandura, "Social Cognitive Theory of Organizational
Management," The Academy of Management Review, vol. 14, no. 3, pp.
361-384, 1989.
[13] J. Cutcliffe, and B. Hannigan, "Mass Media, ÔÇÿMonsters- and Mental
Health Clients: the Need for Increased Lobbying, Journal of psychiatric
and Mental Health Nursing, vol. 8, pp. 315-321, 2001.
[14] O. Farnall, and K. A. Smith, "Reactions to People with Disabilities:
Personal Contact versus Viewing of Specific Media Portrayals,"
Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 659-
672, 1999.
[15] B. G. Link, F. T. Cullen, J. Frank, and J. F. Wozniak, "The Social
Rejection of Former Mental Patients: Understanding Why Labels
Matter," American Journal of Sociology, vol. 92, pp. 1461-1500, 1987.
[16] D. L. Penn, C. Chamberlin, and K. T. Mueser, "The Effects of a
Documentary Film about Schizophrenia on Psychiatric Stigma,"
Schizophrenia Bulletin, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 383-391. 2003.
[17] W. J. Potter, and K. Riddle, "A Content Analysis of The Media Effects
Literature," Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 84,
no. 1, pp. 90-104, 2007.
[18] A. Mayer, and D. D. Barry, "Working with the Media to Destigmatize
Mental Illness," Hospital and Community Psychiatry, vol. 43, no. 1,
pp.77-78, 1992.
[19] L. R. Lopez, "Adolescents- Attitude toward Mental Illness and
Perceived Sources of Their Attitude: An Examination of Pilot Data,"
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 271-280, 1991.
[20] L. Ha, and E. L. James, "Interactivity Reexamined: A Baseline Analysis
of Early Business Web Sites," Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic
Media, vol. 45, pp. 65-74, 2008.
[21] G. J. Johnson, G. C. Bruner, and A. Kumar, "Interactivity and Its Facets
Revisited," Journal of Advertising, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 35-52, 2006.
[22] S. Kiousis, "Interactivity: A Concept Explication," New Media &
Society, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 355-383, 2002.
[23] S. J. McMillan, and J. S. Hwang, "Measures of Perceived Interactivity:
An Exploration of the Role of Direction of Communication, User
Control, and Time in Shaping Perceptions of Interactivity," Journal of
Advertising, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 29-42, 2002.
[24] D. Sohn, and B. K. Lee, "Dimensions of Interactivity: Differential
Effects of Social and Psychological Factors," Journal of Computer
Mediated Communication, vol. 10, no. 3, 2005.
[25] G. Wu, "The Mediating Role of Perceived Interactivity in the Effect of
Actual Interactivity on Attitude toward the Website," Journal of
Interactive Advertising, vol. 5, no. 2, pp.29-39, 2005.
[26] J. F. Jensen, "Interactivity: Tracking a New Concept in Media and
Communication Studies," Nordicom Review, vol. 19, pp. 185-204, 1998.
[27] J. B. Walther, "Interpersonal Effects in Computer-Mediated Interaction,"
Communication Research, vol. 19, no. 1, 52-90, 1992.
[28] B. L. Massey, and M. R. Levy, "Interactive Online Journalism at English
Language Web Newspapers in Asia," Journalism and Mass
Communication Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 138-151, 1999.
[29] D. Sohn, C. Ci, and B. K. Lee, " The Moderating Effects of Expectation
on the Patterns of the Interactivity-Attitude Relationship," Journal of
Advertising, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 109-119, 2007.
[30] S. Rafaeli, and F. Sudweeks, "Networked Interactivity," Journal of
Computer Mediated Communication, vol. 2, no. 4, 1997.
[31] G. Wu, "Perceived Interactivity and Attitude toward Website," in Conf.
Presented, 1999 Annual Conference of American Academy of
Advertising.
[32] Y. Liu, and L. J. Shrum, "What is Interactivity and Is It Always Such a
Good Thing? Implications of Definition, Person, and Situation for the
Influence of Interactivity on Advertising Effectiveness," Journal of
Advertising, vol. 31, no. 4, 2002.
[33] C. Cho, and J. D. Leckenby, "Interactivity as a Measure of Advertising
Effectiveness: Antecedents and Consequences of Interactivity in Web
Advertising," in Conf. Presentation, 1999 Annual Conference of
American Academy of Advertising.
[34] E. J. Downes, and S. J. McMillan, "Defining Interactivity: A Qualitative
Identification of Key Dimensions," New Media & Society, vol. 2, no. 2,
pp. 157-179, 2000.
[35] S. J. McMillan, "Interactivity is in the Eye of the Beholder, Function,
Perception, Involvement, and Attitude toward Web Sites," in Conf.
Presentation, 2000 Annual Conference of American Academy of
Advertising.
[36] H. Ko, C. Cho, and M. S. Roberts, "Internet Uses and Gratifications,"
Journal of Adverting, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 57-70, 2005.
[37] D. W. Schumann, and E. Thorson, Internet Advertising: Theory and
Research. New Jersey, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associate, Inc., 2007.
[38] G. S. Day, "Organizing for Interactivity," Journal of Interactive
Marketing, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 47-53, 1998.
[39] H. Ko, "Internet Uses and Gratifications: A Structural Equation Model
of Global Interactive Advertising," University of Florida, Gainesvill, FL,
Unpublished.
[40] J. L. Aaker, and A. Y. Lee, ""I" Seek Pleasures and "We" Avoid Pains:
The Role of Self-Regulatory Goals in Information Processing and
Persuasion," Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 28, pp. 33-49, 2001.
[41] H. R. Markus, and S. Kitayama, "Culture and the Self: Implications for
Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation," Psychological Review, vol. 98,
no. 2, 1991.
[42] S. Ng, and J. H. Houston, "Exemplars or Beliefs? The Impacts of Self-
View on the Nature and Relative influence of Brand Associations,"
Journal of Consume Research, vol. 32, pp. 519-529, 2006.
[43] T. M. Singelis, "Measurement of Independent and Interdependent Self-
Construal," Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 20, pp.
580-591, 1994.
[44] M. B. Brewer, and W. Gardner, ""We"? Levels of Collective Identity
and Self Representations," Journal of Personality and social
Psychology, vol. 71, no. 1, pp.83-93, 1996.
[45] A. T. Church, M. S. Katigbak, A. M. Del Prado, F. A. Ortiz, K. A.
Mastor, Y. Harumi, J. Tanaka-Matsumi, J. D. J. Vagas-Flores, J. I.
Reyes, F. A. White, L. G. Miramontes, J. A. S. Reyes, H. F. Cabrera, "
Implicit Theories and Self-Perception of Traitedness Across Cultures:
Toward Integration and Cultural and Trait Psychology Perpesctives,"
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 37, pp. 694-716, 2006.
[46] E. Katz, "Mass Communication Research and the Study of Popular
Culture: An Editorial Note on A Possible Future for this Journal,"
Studies in Public Communication, vol. 2, pp. 1-6, 1959.
[47] L. Leung, "User-generated Content on The Internet: An Examination of
Gratifications, Civic, Engagement and Psychological Empowerment,"
New Media & Society, vol. 11, no. 8, pp. 1-21, 2009.
[48] D. R. Fortin, and R. R. Dholakia, "Interactivity and Vividness Effects on
Social Presence and Involvement with a Web-based Advertisement,"
Journal of Business Research, vol. 58, pp. 387-396, 2005.
[49] C. L. Hsu, and J. C. Lin, "Acceptance of Blog Usage: The Roles of
Technology Acceptance, Social Influence and Knowledge Sharing
Motivation," Information & Management, vol. 45, pp. 65-74. 2008.
[50] R. Scoble, and S. Israel, Naked Conversations. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2006.
[51] S-U Yang, and J. S. Lim, "The Effects of Blog-Mediated Public
Relations (BMPR) on Relational Trust," Journal of Public Relations
Research, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 341-359, 2009.
[52] P. Dwyer, "Building Trust with Corporate Blogs," in Conf. Proc. 2007
ICWSM.
[53] T. Kelleher and B. M. Miller, "Organizational Blogs and the Human
Voice: Relational Strategies and Relational Outcomes," Journal of
Computer Mediated Communication, vol. 11, pp. 395-414, 2006.
[54] A. Bandura, "Social Learning Theory of Aggression," Journal of
Communication, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 21-41, 1999.
[55] A. Bandura, Media Effects. Mahwah, NJ, 2002. Ch. 6.
[56] J. Cohen, and P. Cohen, Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation
Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, Inc., 1983.
[57] B. S. Greenberg, Television as a Social Issue. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications, Inc. pp. 390, 1988.
[1] M. C. Angermeyer, and M. Herbert, "The Effect of Violent Attack by
Schizophrenic Persons on The Attitude of the Public towards the
Mentally Ill," Social Science and Medicine, vol. 43, no. 12, pp.1721-
1728, 1996.
[2] C. M. Bahk, "Drench Effects of Media Portrayal of Fatal Virus Disease
on Health Locus of Control Beliefs," Health Communication, vol. 13,
no. 2, pp. 187-204, 2001.
[3] G. Domino, "Impact of the Film: One Flew over the Cuckoo-s Nest on
Attitudes towards Mental Illness," Psychological Reports, vol. 53, pp.
179-182, 1983.
[4] D. H. Granello, P. S. Pauley, and A. Carmichael, "Relationship of the
Media to Attitudes toward People with Mental Illness," Theory and
Research, vol. 38, pp. 98-109, 1999.
[5] P. W. Corrigan, A. Green, R. Lundin, M. A. Kubiak, and D. L. Penn,
"Familiarity with and Social Distance from People Who Have Serious
Mental Illness," Psychiatric Services, vol. 52, no. 7, pp. 953-958, 2001.
[6] D. L. Diefenbach, and M. D. West, "Television and Attitudes toward
Mental Health Issues: Cultivation analysis and The Third-person
Effect," Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 181-195,
2007.
[7] D. H. Granello, and P. S. Pauley, "Television Viewing Habits and Their
Relationship to Tolerance Toward People with Mental Illness," Journal
of Mental Health Counseling, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 162-175, 2000.
[8] M. C. Angermeyer, S. Dietrich, and M. Herbert, "Media Consumption
and Desire for Social Distance towards People with Schizophrenia,"
European Psychiatry, vol. 20, 246-250, 2005.
[9] A. Bandura, "Social Learning Theory of Aggression," Journal of
Communication, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 12-29, 1978.
[10] S. Dietrich, D. Heider, H. Matschinger, and M. C. Angermeyer,
"Influence of Newspaper Reporting on Adolescents- Attitudes Toward
People with Mental Illness," Social Psychiatry Psychiaty Epidemiol, vol.
41, pp. 318-322, 2006.
[11] M. Morgan, and N. Signorielli, Cultivation Analysis: New Directions in
Media Effects Research. Newbury, California, 1990. Ch. 1.
[12] R. Wood, and A. Bandura, "Social Cognitive Theory of Organizational
Management," The Academy of Management Review, vol. 14, no. 3, pp.
361-384, 1989.
[13] J. Cutcliffe, and B. Hannigan, "Mass Media, ÔÇÿMonsters- and Mental
Health Clients: the Need for Increased Lobbying, Journal of psychiatric
and Mental Health Nursing, vol. 8, pp. 315-321, 2001.
[14] O. Farnall, and K. A. Smith, "Reactions to People with Disabilities:
Personal Contact versus Viewing of Specific Media Portrayals,"
Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 659-
672, 1999.
[15] B. G. Link, F. T. Cullen, J. Frank, and J. F. Wozniak, "The Social
Rejection of Former Mental Patients: Understanding Why Labels
Matter," American Journal of Sociology, vol. 92, pp. 1461-1500, 1987.
[16] D. L. Penn, C. Chamberlin, and K. T. Mueser, "The Effects of a
Documentary Film about Schizophrenia on Psychiatric Stigma,"
Schizophrenia Bulletin, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 383-391. 2003.
[17] W. J. Potter, and K. Riddle, "A Content Analysis of The Media Effects
Literature," Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 84,
no. 1, pp. 90-104, 2007.
[18] A. Mayer, and D. D. Barry, "Working with the Media to Destigmatize
Mental Illness," Hospital and Community Psychiatry, vol. 43, no. 1,
pp.77-78, 1992.
[19] L. R. Lopez, "Adolescents- Attitude toward Mental Illness and
Perceived Sources of Their Attitude: An Examination of Pilot Data,"
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 271-280, 1991.
[20] L. Ha, and E. L. James, "Interactivity Reexamined: A Baseline Analysis
of Early Business Web Sites," Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic
Media, vol. 45, pp. 65-74, 2008.
[21] G. J. Johnson, G. C. Bruner, and A. Kumar, "Interactivity and Its Facets
Revisited," Journal of Advertising, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 35-52, 2006.
[22] S. Kiousis, "Interactivity: A Concept Explication," New Media &
Society, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 355-383, 2002.
[23] S. J. McMillan, and J. S. Hwang, "Measures of Perceived Interactivity:
An Exploration of the Role of Direction of Communication, User
Control, and Time in Shaping Perceptions of Interactivity," Journal of
Advertising, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 29-42, 2002.
[24] D. Sohn, and B. K. Lee, "Dimensions of Interactivity: Differential
Effects of Social and Psychological Factors," Journal of Computer
Mediated Communication, vol. 10, no. 3, 2005.
[25] G. Wu, "The Mediating Role of Perceived Interactivity in the Effect of
Actual Interactivity on Attitude toward the Website," Journal of
Interactive Advertising, vol. 5, no. 2, pp.29-39, 2005.
[26] J. F. Jensen, "Interactivity: Tracking a New Concept in Media and
Communication Studies," Nordicom Review, vol. 19, pp. 185-204, 1998.
[27] J. B. Walther, "Interpersonal Effects in Computer-Mediated Interaction,"
Communication Research, vol. 19, no. 1, 52-90, 1992.
[28] B. L. Massey, and M. R. Levy, "Interactive Online Journalism at English
Language Web Newspapers in Asia," Journalism and Mass
Communication Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 138-151, 1999.
[29] D. Sohn, C. Ci, and B. K. Lee, " The Moderating Effects of Expectation
on the Patterns of the Interactivity-Attitude Relationship," Journal of
Advertising, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 109-119, 2007.
[30] S. Rafaeli, and F. Sudweeks, "Networked Interactivity," Journal of
Computer Mediated Communication, vol. 2, no. 4, 1997.
[31] G. Wu, "Perceived Interactivity and Attitude toward Website," in Conf.
Presented, 1999 Annual Conference of American Academy of
Advertising.
[32] Y. Liu, and L. J. Shrum, "What is Interactivity and Is It Always Such a
Good Thing? Implications of Definition, Person, and Situation for the
Influence of Interactivity on Advertising Effectiveness," Journal of
Advertising, vol. 31, no. 4, 2002.
[33] C. Cho, and J. D. Leckenby, "Interactivity as a Measure of Advertising
Effectiveness: Antecedents and Consequences of Interactivity in Web
Advertising," in Conf. Presentation, 1999 Annual Conference of
American Academy of Advertising.
[34] E. J. Downes, and S. J. McMillan, "Defining Interactivity: A Qualitative
Identification of Key Dimensions," New Media & Society, vol. 2, no. 2,
pp. 157-179, 2000.
[35] S. J. McMillan, "Interactivity is in the Eye of the Beholder, Function,
Perception, Involvement, and Attitude toward Web Sites," in Conf.
Presentation, 2000 Annual Conference of American Academy of
Advertising.
[36] H. Ko, C. Cho, and M. S. Roberts, "Internet Uses and Gratifications,"
Journal of Adverting, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 57-70, 2005.
[37] D. W. Schumann, and E. Thorson, Internet Advertising: Theory and
Research. New Jersey, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associate, Inc., 2007.
[38] G. S. Day, "Organizing for Interactivity," Journal of Interactive
Marketing, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 47-53, 1998.
[39] H. Ko, "Internet Uses and Gratifications: A Structural Equation Model
of Global Interactive Advertising," University of Florida, Gainesvill, FL,
Unpublished.
[40] J. L. Aaker, and A. Y. Lee, ""I" Seek Pleasures and "We" Avoid Pains:
The Role of Self-Regulatory Goals in Information Processing and
Persuasion," Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 28, pp. 33-49, 2001.
[41] H. R. Markus, and S. Kitayama, "Culture and the Self: Implications for
Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation," Psychological Review, vol. 98,
no. 2, 1991.
[42] S. Ng, and J. H. Houston, "Exemplars or Beliefs? The Impacts of Self-
View on the Nature and Relative influence of Brand Associations,"
Journal of Consume Research, vol. 32, pp. 519-529, 2006.
[43] T. M. Singelis, "Measurement of Independent and Interdependent Self-
Construal," Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 20, pp.
580-591, 1994.
[44] M. B. Brewer, and W. Gardner, ""We"? Levels of Collective Identity
and Self Representations," Journal of Personality and social
Psychology, vol. 71, no. 1, pp.83-93, 1996.
[45] A. T. Church, M. S. Katigbak, A. M. Del Prado, F. A. Ortiz, K. A.
Mastor, Y. Harumi, J. Tanaka-Matsumi, J. D. J. Vagas-Flores, J. I.
Reyes, F. A. White, L. G. Miramontes, J. A. S. Reyes, H. F. Cabrera, "
Implicit Theories and Self-Perception of Traitedness Across Cultures:
Toward Integration and Cultural and Trait Psychology Perpesctives,"
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 37, pp. 694-716, 2006.
[46] E. Katz, "Mass Communication Research and the Study of Popular
Culture: An Editorial Note on A Possible Future for this Journal,"
Studies in Public Communication, vol. 2, pp. 1-6, 1959.
[47] L. Leung, "User-generated Content on The Internet: An Examination of
Gratifications, Civic, Engagement and Psychological Empowerment,"
New Media & Society, vol. 11, no. 8, pp. 1-21, 2009.
[48] D. R. Fortin, and R. R. Dholakia, "Interactivity and Vividness Effects on
Social Presence and Involvement with a Web-based Advertisement,"
Journal of Business Research, vol. 58, pp. 387-396, 2005.
[49] C. L. Hsu, and J. C. Lin, "Acceptance of Blog Usage: The Roles of
Technology Acceptance, Social Influence and Knowledge Sharing
Motivation," Information & Management, vol. 45, pp. 65-74. 2008.
[50] R. Scoble, and S. Israel, Naked Conversations. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2006.
[51] S-U Yang, and J. S. Lim, "The Effects of Blog-Mediated Public
Relations (BMPR) on Relational Trust," Journal of Public Relations
Research, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 341-359, 2009.
[52] P. Dwyer, "Building Trust with Corporate Blogs," in Conf. Proc. 2007
ICWSM.
[53] T. Kelleher and B. M. Miller, "Organizational Blogs and the Human
Voice: Relational Strategies and Relational Outcomes," Journal of
Computer Mediated Communication, vol. 11, pp. 395-414, 2006.
[54] A. Bandura, "Social Learning Theory of Aggression," Journal of
Communication, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 21-41, 1999.
[55] A. Bandura, Media Effects. Mahwah, NJ, 2002. Ch. 6.
[56] J. Cohen, and P. Cohen, Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation
Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, Inc., 1983.
[57] B. S. Greenberg, Television as a Social Issue. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications, Inc. pp. 390, 1988.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:54665", author = "Doori Song and Hyun-Ji Lim and Yoo Jin Chung", title = "The Stigma of Mental Illness and the Way of Destigmatization: The Effects of Interactivity and Self-Construal", abstract = "Some believe that stigma is the worst side effect of the
people who have mental illness. Mental illness researchers have
focused on the influence of mass media on the stigmatization of the
people with mental illness. However, no studies have investigated the
effects of the interactive media, such as blogs, on the stigmatization
of mentally ill people, even though the media have a significant
influence on people in all areas of life. The purpose of this study is to
investigate the use of interactivity in destigmatization of the mentally
ill and the moderating effect of self-construal (independent versus
interdependent self-construal) on the relation between interactivity
and destigmatization. The findings suggested that people in the
human-human interaction condition had less social distance toward
people with mental illness. Additionally, participants with higher
independence showed more favorable affection and less social
distance toward mentally ill people. Finally, direct contact with
mentally ill people increased a person-s positive affect toward people
with mental illness. The current study should provide insights for
mental health practitioners by suggesting how they can use
interactive media to approach the public that stigmatizes the mentally
ill.", keywords = "Mental health, destigmatization, interactivity, selfconstrual", volume = "5", number = "12", pages = "1865-8", }
