AI Article Synopsis

  • The study explores the negative attitudes and desire for social distance that genetic counselors may have towards individuals with schizophrenia.
  • Counselors showed a greater desire for social distance in more intimate situations and endorsed negative stereotypes more than positive ones.
  • These attitudes could hinder the counseling relationship, highlighting the need for further research and efforts to foster positive attitudes among genetic counselors.

Article Abstract

Objective: psychiatric disorders are profoundly stigmatized conditions. Many groups of healthcare professionals harbor negative attitudes towards affected individuals, which may interfere with the healthcare relationship, but genetic counselors' attitudes towards individuals with psychiatric disorders have not been investigated. Thus, we conducted an exploratory study to assess genetic counselors' desire for social distance from individuals with schizophrenia, and the degree to which stereotypes about people with schizophrenia were endorsed.

Methods: members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors were invited to complete an online survey, which included scales measuring: desire for social distance from individuals with schizophrenia, and endorsement of positive and negative stereotypes about these individuals.

Results: in total, 142 surveys were completed. Genetic counselors expressed greater desire for social distance from an individual with schizophrenia in more intimate proposed relationship scenarios, and felt negative stereotypes about affected individuals were more typifying than positive stereotypes. Experience with psychiatric disorders did not significantly affect desired social distance or stereotypical attitudes.

Conclusions: genetic counselors express some negative attitudes towards individuals with schizophrenia, which may impede the counselor/client relationship. Future research in this area is suggested.

Practice Implications: efforts should be made to promote positive attitudes, which would improve the ability of genetic counselors to provide optimal service for individuals with schizophrenia and their families.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3726382PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2010.02.007DOI Listing

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