The Association between Parent and Children's Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Mental Illness
Presentation Type
Poster
Major
Psychology
Abstract
This study examined the influence that parents have on their children’s knowledge and attitudes toward mental illness. Previous studies suggest that children may not have a complete knowledge of mental illness and may perceive it negatively. Researchers hypothesized that parents and children would have similar perceptions of mental illness and that parents may have an influence in socializing children to have certain views about mental illness. Data was gathered from 24 pairs of students and parents from a middle school and high school. Both parent and child participants completed both a knowledge and attitude assessment and responses of parents were compared to responses of children. The results showed that children tend to have incomplete knowledge of mental illness and that there is a significant difference in the knowledge and attitudes that children and parents have toward mental illness, but that parental attitudes may influence some children. The results indicate that a larger, more diverse sample should be gathered to examine additional age and gender differences.
Faculty Mentor
Cindy Miller-Perrin
Funding Source or Research Program
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative
Location
Waves Cafeteria, Tyler Campus Center
Start Date
21-3-2014 2:00 PM
End Date
21-3-2014 3:00 PM
The Association between Parent and Children's Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Mental Illness
Waves Cafeteria, Tyler Campus Center
This study examined the influence that parents have on their children’s knowledge and attitudes toward mental illness. Previous studies suggest that children may not have a complete knowledge of mental illness and may perceive it negatively. Researchers hypothesized that parents and children would have similar perceptions of mental illness and that parents may have an influence in socializing children to have certain views about mental illness. Data was gathered from 24 pairs of students and parents from a middle school and high school. Both parent and child participants completed both a knowledge and attitude assessment and responses of parents were compared to responses of children. The results showed that children tend to have incomplete knowledge of mental illness and that there is a significant difference in the knowledge and attitudes that children and parents have toward mental illness, but that parental attitudes may influence some children. The results indicate that a larger, more diverse sample should be gathered to examine additional age and gender differences.