The stereotype of schizophrenia and its impact on discrimination against people with schizophrenia: results from a representative survey in Germany

Abstract

This study aims at assessing the prevalence of different components of the stereotype of schizophrenia among the general public and examining their impact on the preference for social distance and the acceptance of structural discrimination--that is, imbalances and injustices inherent in legal regulations and the provision of health care. In spring 2001, a representative survey was carried out in Germany involving individuals of German nationality aged 18 years and older and living in noninstitutional settings (n = 5,025). A personal, fully structured interview was conducted, including a list of items covering the various aspects of the stereotype, a social distance scale, and items assessing respondents' agreement with structural discrimination. Among the five stereotype components, the perception of people with schizophrenia as being unpredictable and incompetent was most frequently endorsed by the public, followed by perceived dangerousness. While the desire for social distance was best predicted by these two stereotype components, holding the individual responsible for the illness was the most powerful predictor of the acceptance of structural discrimination.