A comparison in the attitudes of students in human service fields and non-human service fields regarding individuals diagnosed with mental illness

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if attitudes regarding individuals with mental illness were significantly different between students in human service majors and students in non-human service majors. The research compared the two groups to find differences, which could contribute to the negative stigmas and low unemployment rates of individuals with mental illness. The sample survey was composed of students in human service majors and students in non-human majors attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout. An analysis of variance was conducted and found seventeen of the twenty attitude statements by the two different groups to be statistically different. These findings suggest that education and awareness about individuals with mental illness needs to be brought forth in course work of students in non-human service majors to aid in eliminating attitudes and stigmas.