Investigating the Influence of Media Articles on the Stigma of Suicide and other Campus-Related Factors after a Suicide on Campus
Date
2020-08-26
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Abstract
Objective: This study investigated whether different media articles (i.e., mass-media intervention) from a post-secondary institution (in response to a student suicide) could influence the stigma towards suicide behaviours and suicide death from students and whether certain variables (empathy, interpersonal anxiety, and modern prejudice) mediated this relationship. Other campus-related factors (e.g., opinions on acknowledging a suicide, resources, campus perceptions) were also explored. Method: Undergraduate participants (N=500) read a fictitious scenario about a student suicide on their campus and were randomly assigned to one of four articles: a control article about health that did not mention the suicide or one of three intervention articles that acknowledged the suicide and was knowledge based (psychologist) or also included interpersonal exposure/media contact (a friend of the decedent, or a suicide survivor). Suicide stigma measures, mediators, and other variables of interest were collected. Results: The stigma towards suicide survivors, particularly stereotypes, was significantly less after the three intervention articles compared to the control; no differences were found between the intervention articles. No significant differences were observed regarding stigma towards suicide decedents or campus perceptions. A mediation model was not supported. Most students believed that campuses should acknowledge a suicide and they provided numerous explanations for this. Students were knowledgeable on suicide prevention resources. Conclusions: Mass media interventions (with and without media contact) can be effective in reducing some aspects of suicide stigma. Post-secondary institutions should consider respectfully acknowledging a suicide on their campuses in a similar way, especially since most students are supportive of this.
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stigma, suicide, suicide survivor, discrimination, interpersonal media contact, knowledge-based/psychoeducation, mass media interventions, postsecondary institutions/students, prejudice, stereotypes
Citation
Lindsay, B. L. (2020). Investigating the Influence of Media Articles on the Stigma of Suicide and other Campus-Related Factors after a Suicide on Campus (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.