Abstract
In recent years there has been an effort to normalize mental health and to encourage individuals to seek support for mental health issues. This effort has been particularly evident on university campuses. Participants in this study were 239 male and 290 female students enrolled in kinesiology courses. Students completed the Questionnaire of Student Attitudes toward Schizophrenia. The questionnaire is comprised of two topics: stereotypes of schizophrenia and social distance, i.e. the students' readiness to enter different types of social relationships with someone who has schizophrenia. In the stigma process undesirable characteristics are stereotypically linked to a condition and serve to justify negative social reactions, i.e. stereotypes form the basis of behavioural intentions. There were significant differences between female (4.77 ± 3.42) and male (6.24 ± 4.18) students in total stigma toward schizophrenia. Males reported more stereotyped beliefs (2.51 ± 1.66) and sought to maintain greater social distance to people with schizophrenia (3.73 ± 3.06) compared to females (1.90 ± 1.46 for stereotype; 2.86 ± 2.51 for social distance). Overall stigma scores were relatively low, however gender differences do exist and these differences should be addressed in attempts at increasing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. Many kinesiology graduates will be employed in health and physical activity related fields and this will inevitably result in contact with individuals with mental health issues, students should be made aware of their own biases and seek to address them.
