Hi there,
I was wondering what one would make of a positive correlation between to variables that do not make theoretical sense in my sample. For example, more positive attitudes toward people affected by mental health issues with *higher* levels of stigma toward mental illness.
The literature, comparison studies, and theoretical and common sense all point to the fact that a negative relationship should instead exist (more positive attitudes toward people affected by mental health issues with **lower** levels of stigma toward mental illness [i.e., a negatively valued stigma score statistic]).
All assumptions have been tested, the measurement tool is valid and reliable. I am failing to understand what could be happening here. Does anyone have an idea or literature that I could refer to?
Thanking you in advance.
Are you looking at perceived stigma? Perception and fact can be very different.
Here you have our stigma papers as regards mental illness. It does not always go as you think it should go:
Article What is mental illness?: social representations of mental il...
Chapter Social Representations of Mental Illness among the Public
I think that you could obtain more help with a more extensive explanation of your work. Stigma and positive attitude can mean much different phoenomena. In any case I could explain your question in this way. If I express anger for the behaviour of a patient of mine, I' m expressing a bad attitude. But I know that in the same time I have less stygma toward the patient, I dont consider him an inferior person. In the same time a nurse can express a good attitude toward the same behaviour of the same patient, because he or she think that patient is not able to decide for himself and in doing that express more stygma than me.
Well, the psychiatrist dont need always to be the smart one: I made an example for the sake of the clarity.
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