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Hyun, Yang, and Lee: Survey for Community Attitudes toward People with Mental Illness
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009; 39(1): 84-94.

Published online: 28 February 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.1.84

Survey for Community Attitudes toward People with Mental Illness

Mi-Yeul Hyun1, Soo Yang2, Gyungjoo Lee3

1Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Cheju National University, Jeju, Korea.

2Professor, College of Nursing, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

3Part-time Lecturer, College of Nursing, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Hyun, Mi-Yeul. Department of Nursing, Che-Ju National University, 66 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju 690-756, Korea. Tel: 82-64-754-3886, Fax: 82-64-702-2686, hpeople@cheju.ac.kr

Received 24 June 2008       Accepted 20 January 2009

Copyright © 2009 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to investigate community attitudes towards people with mental illness and to mental health services.

Methods

From August to October of 2006, 474 citizens of Siheung city were asked to give demographic data and their personal attitude toward mental illness and mental health services.

Results

The residents of Siheung community showed slightly negative attitudes, with a mean opinion about mental illness score of 93.38±17.29. According to the study, health professionals and citizens showed a positive attitude to the establishment of day care centers and residential facilities (62.2% and 55.4% respectively). Civil servants showed negative attitudes (40.4%). There were significant differences in attitudes according to gender, age, education level, occupation, religion, and income. Positive attitudes were found for health professionals and negative attitudes for civil servants.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate a need to provide public information and education for civil servants, and for those who have negative attitudes, in particular, men, people in the younger age group, who have lower education levels, who are Buddhists, monthly renters, who have a monthly income below 1 million won, who have no children and no experience with people who have a mental illness.

Keywords: Attitude, Mental health

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Demographic Characteristics of Subjects
jkan-39-84-i001
Table 2
Experience for contacting the Mentally ill
jkan-39-84-i002
Table 3
Attitudes for establishing Mental Health Institute
jkan-39-84-i003
Table 4
Mean Scores of OMI
jkan-39-84-i004

†Scheffé test (Same letters mean significantly different).

OMI=opinion about mental illness.

Table 5
Comparison between each Demographic Variable and Mean Scores of OMI
jkan-39-84-i001

†Scheffé test (Same letters mean significantly different); *p<.05; **p<.01; ***p<.001.

OMI=opinion about mental illness.

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