Lay theories of schizophrenia - A cross-cultural comparison of British and Hong Kong Chinese attitudes, attributions and beliefs
Lay theories of schizophrenia - A cross-cultural comparison of British and Hong Kong Chinese attitudes, attributions and beliefs
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DOI：
10.1007/s00127-004-0787-8
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发表时间：
2004-07-01
影响因子：
4.4
通讯作者：
Chan, E
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Furnham, A;Chan, E
背景 本研究旨在比较英国和中国年轻人对精神分裂症的表现、原因和治疗的看法。方法 共有 339 名参与者完成了一份包含 60 项的问卷，以比较英国（英国）和中国（香港）参与者对精神分裂症的外行理论。参与者用母语完成了由三部分组成的调查问卷，研究了对精神分裂症的一般看法、精神分裂症病因的因果解释以及该疾病的最佳治疗方法。据推测，中国人对精神分裂症的态度和信念比英国人更为消极。据预测，中国人将倾向于主要使用社会学模型来解释精神分裂症的病因。结果对问卷三部分的内部结构进行因素分析后，这两个假设得到了证实。然而，与英国人相比，中国人并没有用更多的迷信信仰来解释精神分裂症患者的行为。结论 对心理健康素养的关注导致了更多关于主要精神疾病（特别是精神分裂症）的非专业理论的研究，因为这些理论反映了社会对患者的态度和行为。这项研究表明，即使是受过良好教育的年轻人仍然对最具挑战性的精神疾病之一一无所知。考虑了对个人寻求帮助行为和病程的影响。
Background This study set out to compare British and Chinese young people's beliefs about the manifestations, causes and cures of schizophrenia. Method A total of 339 participants completed a 60-item questionnaire to compare lay theories of schizophrenia between British (in England) and Chinese (in Hong Kong) participants. The participants completed the three-part questionnaire in their mother tongue looking at beliefs about schizophrenia in general, causal explanation for the aetiology of schizophrenia and optimal cures for the condition. It was hypothesized that the Chinese would possess more negative attitudes and beliefs about schizophrenia than the British. It was also predicted that the Chinese would tend to use primarily a sociological model to explain the aetiology of schizophrenia. Results These two hypotheses were confirmed after factor-analysing the internal structure of the three sections of the questionnaire. However, the Chinese, compared to the British, did not use more superstitious beliefs to explain the behaviour of people with schizophrenia. Conclusion Concern with mental health literacy has led to more studies on lay theories about major mental illnesses (specifically schizophrenia) because these theories reflect societal attitudes to patients and behaviour toward them. This study suggests that even well-educated young people remain ignorant about one of the most challenging mental illnesses. Implications for help-seeking behaviour and the course of the illness in individuals are considered.