Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers

Linus Wittmann; Robert Dorner; Imke Heuer; Thomas Bock; Candelaria Mahlke

doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697

Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers

Standard

Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers. / Wittmann, Linus; Dorner, Robert; Heuer, Imke ; Bock, Thomas ; Mahlke, Candelaria.

In: INT J LAW PSYCHIAT, Vol. 76, 101697, 10.04.2021.

Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Wittmann, L, Dorner, R, Heuer, I , Bock, T & Mahlke, C 2021, 'Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers', INT J LAW PSYCHIAT, vol. 76, 101697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697

APA

Wittmann, L., Dorner, R., Heuer, I., Bock, T., & Mahlke, C. (2021). Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers. INT J LAW PSYCHIAT, 76, [101697]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697

Vancouver

Wittmann L, Dorner R, Heuer I , Bock T , Mahlke C. Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers. INT J LAW PSYCHIAT. 2021 Apr 10;76. 101697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697

Bibtex

@article{df554a5d4b4440e1808ce4745a3f9b8a,

title = "Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Police force interaction rates with individuals with mental health conditions are on the rise. International research reveals that the presence of a mental health condition increases the risk for detention and use of force by police officers. Stigmatization of individuals with mental health conditions as dangerous and unpredictable is assumed to have an impact on the likelihood of police use of force. The following study examines a trialogical intervention to reduce stigmatization of individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a police officer sample.METHOD: 1318 police officers participated in a trialogical contact-based intervention with the aim to reduce stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs. Emotional reactions, stereotypes and social distance were assessed prior to and after the intervention in a one-group design.RESULTS: Negative stereotypes were positively associated with social distance in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and were positively associated with anxiety. Dependent sample t-test revealed reduced anxiety towards individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, less negative stereotypes, and less social distance post intervention. All results were significant, and all effect sizes showed a small to moderate effect.CONCLUSIONS: Trialogical contact-based, short-term anti-stigma interventions appear to reduce stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with mental health conditions in a large police force sample. A missing control group is a key study limitation. Further research is needed to examine the effectiveness of the intervention in a randomized-controlled trial. However, the results clearly suggest that anti-stigma interventions could be beneficially introduced into police training.",

author = "Linus Wittmann and Robert Dorner and Imke Heuer and Thomas Bock and Candelaria Mahlke",

year = "2021",

month = apr,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697",

language = "English",

volume = "76",

journal = "INT J LAW PSYCHIAT",

issn = "0160-2527",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness of a contact-based anti-stigma intervention for police officers

AU - Wittmann, Linus

AU - Dorner, Robert

AU - Heuer, Imke

AU - Bock, Thomas

AU - Mahlke, Candelaria

PY - 2021/4/10

Y1 - 2021/4/10

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Police force interaction rates with individuals with mental health conditions are on the rise. International research reveals that the presence of a mental health condition increases the risk for detention and use of force by police officers. Stigmatization of individuals with mental health conditions as dangerous and unpredictable is assumed to have an impact on the likelihood of police use of force. The following study examines a trialogical intervention to reduce stigmatization of individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a police officer sample.METHOD: 1318 police officers participated in a trialogical contact-based intervention with the aim to reduce stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs. Emotional reactions, stereotypes and social distance were assessed prior to and after the intervention in a one-group design.RESULTS: Negative stereotypes were positively associated with social distance in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and were positively associated with anxiety. Dependent sample t-test revealed reduced anxiety towards individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, less negative stereotypes, and less social distance post intervention. All results were significant, and all effect sizes showed a small to moderate effect.CONCLUSIONS: Trialogical contact-based, short-term anti-stigma interventions appear to reduce stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with mental health conditions in a large police force sample. A missing control group is a key study limitation. Further research is needed to examine the effectiveness of the intervention in a randomized-controlled trial. However, the results clearly suggest that anti-stigma interventions could be beneficially introduced into police training.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Police force interaction rates with individuals with mental health conditions are on the rise. International research reveals that the presence of a mental health condition increases the risk for detention and use of force by police officers. Stigmatization of individuals with mental health conditions as dangerous and unpredictable is assumed to have an impact on the likelihood of police use of force. The following study examines a trialogical intervention to reduce stigmatization of individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a police officer sample.METHOD: 1318 police officers participated in a trialogical contact-based intervention with the aim to reduce stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs. Emotional reactions, stereotypes and social distance were assessed prior to and after the intervention in a one-group design.RESULTS: Negative stereotypes were positively associated with social distance in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and were positively associated with anxiety. Dependent sample t-test revealed reduced anxiety towards individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, less negative stereotypes, and less social distance post intervention. All results were significant, and all effect sizes showed a small to moderate effect.CONCLUSIONS: Trialogical contact-based, short-term anti-stigma interventions appear to reduce stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with mental health conditions in a large police force sample. A missing control group is a key study limitation. Further research is needed to examine the effectiveness of the intervention in a randomized-controlled trial. However, the results clearly suggest that anti-stigma interventions could be beneficially introduced into police training.

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697

DO - 10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101697

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 33836436

VL - 76

JO - INT J LAW PSYCHIAT

JF - INT J LAW PSYCHIAT

SN - 0160-2527

M1 - 101697

ER -