PREDICTORS OF ATTITUDES TOWARD PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS

Sa？etak Introduction: People with mental disorders are often stigmatized because of prejudices and stereotypes and they are often attributed various negative traits, so they often avoid seeking help and lack social support, which is of great significance in their rehabilitation. For this reason, it is particularly important to understand the predictors of attitudes toward people with mental disorders in healthcare professionals. Objective: To determine whether demographic variables, workplace variables, and personality-related variables can serve as predictors of attitudes toward people with mental disorders in nurses. Methods: The survey encompassed 116 respondents. The following instruments were used: General and Demographic Information Questionnaire, Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Results: Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that out of the analysed variables the only significant predictor of authoritarian attitudes toward persons with mental disorders is the educational degree variable. Agreeableness as a personality trait is a significant predictor of views regarding social exclusion, while the personality traits agreeableness and neuroticism are significant predictors of attitudes toward the treatment of the mentally ill within the community. Conclusion: Individuals with higher education have less of an authoritarian attitude toward the mentally ill than those with lower education. Participants with agreeableness as a more pronounced personality trait are less inclined to socially exclude the mentally ill and have a positive attitude toward treatment within the community. Persons exhibiting a great degree of neuroticism and not much agreeableness have a more negative attitude toward the treatment of the mentally ill within the community