Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Jessica Hart

Abstract

Prior research has shown a correlation between public stigma and emergency responders' perceptions of mental health patients while providing care. However, research examining public stigma and emergency responders' perceptions of mental health patients is limited in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to explore possible relationships between the dependent variable, public stigma, and the independent variables: social distance, blameworthiness, and fear of unpredictable behavior. Link's modified labeling theory was the theoretical framework for this study. A sample of 92 emergency responders obtained from Facebook completed a questionnaire that consisted of three Likert scales. A multiple regression showed little correlation between public stigma and social distance, blameworthiness, and fear of unpredictable behavior. Only .077 of the variance in public stigma was explained by the combination of independent variables. This study has demonstrated a possible shift in societal attitudes toward mental illness. It is important to determine the cause of this change in results so that continued education regarding mental health awareness may positively affect social change.

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