Concrete or Abstract? The Effects of Picture Concreteness and Mental Illness Prevalence on Destigmatizing Mental Illnesses

This study investigated how picture concreteness (cartoon versus photo) and mental illness prevalence level (high versus low) in mental health messages influence mental illness stigma via a within-subjects online experiment (N = 92). Findings revealed that, compared to cartoons, photos elicited greater empathic closeness, decreased social distancing intention (especially for the low-prevalence mental illnesses of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), and increased intention to support mental health policies. Compared to photos, cartoons increased comprehension (especially for the high-prevalence mental illnesses of depression and anxiety) and reduced personal responsibility for mental illness. Messages about high-prevalence mental illnesses compared to low-prevalence mental illnesses elicited more empathic closeness, lower social distancing intention, and higher message dissemination intention

Anxiety · Closeness · Concreteness · Mental health · Mental illness · Psychiatry · Social distance · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Mental Health via Writing · Psychology

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