Public Knowledge,Stigma,and Discrimination Toward Schizophrenia: Results From a National Survey in Türkiye 1

Abstract

Purpose:

In light of the limited and predominantly regional evidence on public stigma toward schizophrenia in Türkiye, this study aimed to address the lack of nationally representative data by investigating public perceptions of schizophrenia, levels of knowledge, and attitudes toward social distance and related factors in a large, nationally representative sample from Türkiye. In doing so, the research questions were explicitly derived from this gap, focusing on how education, socioeconomic status, gender, and familiarity with mental illness are associated with knowledge and social distance.

Methods:

A total of 1,030 adults were surveyed between 4 and 26 September 2019. Data were collected through Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) conducted by 32 trained interviewers who had received sensitivity training on mental illness before fieldwork. The questionnaire was developed by an expert academic committee with extensive experience in stigma research. Data analysis included frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, and significance testing.

Results:

Overall, 63.7% of participants recognized schizophrenia as a brain disorder, although 27% still attributed it to character weakness, reflecting ongoing stigma. Approximately 40% acknowledged psychosocial factors (e.g. poverty) in the etiology of schizophrenia, 54% recognized its association with cannabis use, and 39.4% considered individuals with schizophrenia to be dangerous. More negative beliefs were observed among lower socioeconomic and educational groups, whereas participants with personal or familial experience of mental illness demonstrated greater knowledge and less stigmatizing attitudes.

Conclusion:

This study provides the first nationally representative evidence on public knowledge, stigma, and discriminatory attitudes toward schizophrenia in Türkiye. While a majority of respondents endorsed biomedical explanations, substantial proportions continued to express stigmatizing beliefs and social distance, particularly among individuals with lower socioeconomic status and educational attainment. These findings highlight persistent structural and informational inequalities shaping public stigma and underscore the need for targeted, culturally sensitive educational and anti-stigma interventions to promote social inclusion and reduce discrimination.

Keywords

schizophrenia stigma public attitudes discrimination Türkiye

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