The mediating role of knowledge on the contact and stigma of mental illness in Hong Kong.
BACKGROUND
Although knowledge is a crucial component in contact theory delineating how prejudice changes toward out-groups with stigmatized conditions, little is known about the mediating role of knowledge on contact, stigmatizing attitudes, and behaviors toward mental illness.


AIM
This study aimed to examine the mechanism underlie contact and stigma change by knowledge.


METHODS
A total of 366 participants including family members (FM), mental health providers (MHP), and community residents (CR) recruited across communities in Hong Kong and completed measures of contact level, contact quantity, contact quality, mental health related knowledge, prejudice, and discriminatory behaviors. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the association among the key variables.


RESULTS
Higher level of contact was significantly correlated with better knowledge, less prejudice, and less discriminatory behaviors. Knowledge was directly and negatively correlated with prejudicial attitudes but was not significantly related to discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, lower levels of prejudice were associated with less discriminatory behaviors.


CONCLUSION
Enhancement of contact may increase understanding toward people with mental illness (PMI) and diminish stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. Although prejudicial attitudes may be reduced by broadening mental health knowledge, increasing knowledge only might not ameliorate discriminatory behaviors. Future research should test mediators on contact and stigma by using longitudinal data.
['Fang|Qi|Q|', 'Zhang|Tian-Ming|TM|', 'Wong|Yin Ling Irene|YLI|', 'Yau|Yuen Yum|YY|', 'Li|Xu-Hong|XH|', 'Li|Jie|J|', 'Chui|Cheryl Hiu Kwan|CHK|', 'Tse|Samson|S|', 'Chan|Cecilia Lai-Wan|CL|', 'Chen|Eric Yu Hai|EYH|', 'Ran|Mao-Sheng|MS|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7343-3729']
D006723:Hong Kong D006801:Humans D001523:Mental Disorders D008603:Mental Health D011287:Prejudice D057545:Social Stigma
knowledge Contact stigma of mental illness Hong Kong