Abstract
A hypothetical model of the process by which the causal attribution of depression is mediated by stigma of mental illness was developed, and its effect on social distance was investigated. We conducted household interviews with respondents (n= 1000, aged 20-69 years, 500 men and 500 women) in 25 nationwide locations that were extracted by area sampling. A path analysis was conducted by using a structural equation modeling. Results indicated the following. (a) There were positive effects of “causal attribution to external events” on “dangerousness” , “possibility of control” and “social distance.” (b) “Causal attribution to internal characteristics” had negative effects on “dangerousness” and “possibility of control.” (c) The “dangerousness” had a positive effect on “social distance.” The implications of these findings to knowledge and understanding about mental illness and for raising public awareness are discussed.
