"Putting yourself in the shoes of others" - Relatability as a novel measure to explain the difference in stigma toward depression and schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Attitudes toward schizophrenia and depression have evolved differently over the last decades, exposing people with schizophrenia to growing stigma. Classic descriptions of schizophrenia symptoms as being particularly unrelatable might offer an explanation for this gap in attitudes that has not yet been tested. We examine to what extent relatability explains the difference in social distance toward people with depression or schizophrenia.

Methods

We developed the 8-item "Relatability Scale", measuring to what extent people can relate to someone described as having either depression or schizophrenia, and used it in an online quota sample of 550 respondents in Germany. Beyond, we elicited the desire for social distance, continuum beliefs, emotional reactions, perceived

SUBMITTER: Schomerus G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12325553 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature