Public Attitudes toward Mental Illness: Q-Methodological Approach.

Kim,  Ji Hyun; Kim,  Boon Han

doi:2017.26.1.24

J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > Volume 26(1); 2017 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2017;26(1):24-35.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2017.26.1.24 Published online April 27, 2017.

Public Attitudes toward Mental Illness: Q-Methodological Approach.

Ji Hyun Kim, Boon Han Kim

¹Choonhae College of Health Sciences, Ulsan, Korea.
²Department of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. bhkim@hanyang.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to identify public attitudes toward mental illness, and to use Q methodology to build understanding of the differences among these attitude types. METHODS: Q Methodology was used to examine the public's attitude on mental illness. Thirty participants classified 33 selected Q-statements on a seven-point scale to create a normal distribution. The collected data were analyzed by using the PC QUANL program. RESULTS: Four types of attitudes toward mental illness were identified. Type I was named ‘Pursuing positive attention and patience regarding serious human rights’; type II, ‘Demanding the abolishing of prejudice through various media’, type III, ‘Emphasizing social responsibility at a distance from mental illness’, and type IV, ‘Focusing on reversible treatment of the disease’. CONCLUSION: In this study, the general public has presented a nursing intervention strategy that can provide support that allows for a positive recognition of mental disorders in accordance with the characteristics of each type.

Key Words: Mental disorders; Attitude; Perception