HREC Approval Number:
792190822

Investigator Name:
Dr Rachel Maunder

Contact email address:
[email protected]

Project Summary:
The project aims to examine the longitudinal relationship between peer contact (interactions between people with mental illness) and self-stigma in people with mental illness. Currently, there is some preliminary research suggestive of a relationship, but the causal direction and the characteristics of peer contact which may strengthen its effect requires investigation. At three time points separated by two-week internals, adult Australians with a mental health condition will report on their peer contact experiences and self-stigma in an online survey. The data will be analysed using multiple groups random-intercept cross-lagged panel models, in accordance with recent analytical advancements in this area. The results may support an extension to the prominent intergroup contact theory and may aid researchers in developing self-stigma reduction interventions which can be implemented more broadly, are more acceptable to people with mental illness, and are less pathologizing than existing programs which have received mixed empirical support.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Participants must be
• Over 18 years of age;
• Living in Australia;
• Proficient in written English language; and
• Have a current mental health condition as diagnosed by a medical professional.

Project end date:
This study is no longer recruiting new participants. A summary of the results can be viewed here.