USPOREDBA STIGME PREMA DEPRESIVNIM OSOBAMA I VLASTITOJ DEPRESIJI KOD STUDENATA POMAGAČKIH I NEPOMAGAČKIH STRUKA

Abstract

COMPARISON OF STIGMA TOWARDS DEPRESSIVE PERSONS AND SELF-STIGMA IN STUDENTS OF HELPING AND NONHELPING PROFESSIONS The aim of the research was to examine the differences in the attitudes towards depressive persons and the levels of self-stigma in the students of medical (nursing and medicine; N=101) and non-medical (social work and psychology; N=98) helping professions and the students of non-helping professions (education, speech pathology and social pedagogy; N=109). The covariance analysis determined that, in spite of rarer actual contact with depressive persons and a smaller number of courses teaching them about depression during the course of study, the students of social work and psychology had more positive attitudes towards depressive persons than the students of medicine and nursing. Apart from that, they were better in recognizing the symptoms of depression. Contrary to that, three groups did not differ with regard to perceived stigma, which was more expressed in comparison with the self-stigma. Additionally, the students of non-medical helping professions showed a more pronounced self-stigma than the students of medical helping professions. The students of psychology and social work, in comparison with the students of medicine and nursing, expressed a higher level of shame at the thought of suffering from depression, as well as the more expressed belief that they could not make a positive contribution to society if they suffered from depression.