Research Article

Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses' Beliefs About Mental Illness

Volume: 9 Number: 1 April 7, 2025
TR EN

Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses' Beliefs About Mental Illness

Abstract

Negative beliefs toward mental illness are prevalent among nursing students, posing various risks for the future care of individuals with mental illness. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of a peer education intervention on the reduction of negative beliefs held by nursing students regarding mental illness. The study was conducted in a quasi-experimental design with a single group pre-test, post-test and follow-up test. It was conducted with 87 nursing students between December 2022 and February 2023. Data were collected using the “Participant Information Form” and the “Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale” (BMI) at pre-training, the first week after the training, and the second month after. The participants were first-, second-, and third-year nursing students who had not previously received education about mental illness. 79.3% of the participants were female, 72.4% lived with their families, and 67.8% had an income equal to their expenses. Furthermore, 50.6% said they would seek help from a psychologist if a relative showed mental symptoms. A significant difference was found in the BMI total and subscale scores before training, in the first week, and in the second month after training (p<0.05). Peer education applied to nursing students is effective in reducing negative beliefs toward mental illness, and the intervention’s effect continued to increase up to the second-month post-education.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK)

Project Number

1919B012204859

Ethical Statement

Ethical principles were observed in the conduct of this study and necessary legal permissions were obtained.

References

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  2. 2. World Health Organization (WHO). (2022a). World Mental Health Repor t: Transforming Mental Health for All. Geneva: World Health Organization. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  3. 3. World Health Organization (WHO). (2022b). Mental disorders. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders Updated June 2022. Accessed date:January 2024.
  4. 4. Martínez-Martínez, C., Esteve-Claramunt, F., Prieto-Callejero, B. and Ramos-Pichardo, J.D. (2022). Stigma towards mental disorders among nursing students and professionals: a bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 9 (3), 1839. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031839
  5. 5. Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). (2024). Stigma and Discrimination. Canadian Mental Health Association site. https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/stigma-and-discrimination/. Accessed January 28, 2024.
  6. 6. Clair, M., Daniel, C., and Lamont, M. (2016). Destigmatization and health: Cultural constructions and the long-term reduction of stigma. Social Science and Medicine (1982), 165, 223–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.03.021
  7. 7. Kolb, K., Liu, J. and Jackman, K. (2023). Stigma towards patients with mental illness: an online survey of United States nurses. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32 (1), 323–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13084
  8. 8. Martin, A., Krause, R., Chilton, J., Jacobs, A. and Amsalem, D. (2020). Attitudes to psychiatry and to mental illness among nursing students: Adaptation and use of two validated instruments in preclinical education. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 27 (3), 308-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12580

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

March 15, 2025

Publication Date

April 7, 2025

Submission Date

October 17, 2024

Acceptance Date

January 20, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 1

APA
Kara Özçalık, C., & Çakal, E. (2025). Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(1), 13-27. https://doi.org/10.71230/arsagbil.1569370
AMA
1.Kara Özçalık C, Çakal E. Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025;9(1):13-27. doi:10.71230/arsagbil.1569370
Chicago
Kara Özçalık, Cennet, and Esra Çakal. 2025. “Stigmatizing With Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9 (1): 13-27. https://doi.org/10.71230/arsagbil.1569370.
EndNote
Kara Özçalık C, Çakal E (April 1, 2025) Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9 1 13–27.
IEEE
[1]C. Kara Özçalık and E. Çakal, “Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness”, J. H. Sci. Arel U., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 13–27, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.71230/arsagbil.1569370.
ISNAD
Kara Özçalık, Cennet - Çakal, Esra. “Stigmatizing With Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9/1 (April 1, 2025): 13-27. https://doi.org/10.71230/arsagbil.1569370.
JAMA
1.Kara Özçalık C, Çakal E. Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025;9:13–27.
MLA
Kara Özçalık, Cennet, and Esra Çakal. “Stigmatizing With Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 1, Apr. 2025, pp. 13-27, doi:10.71230/arsagbil.1569370.
Vancouver
1.Cennet Kara Özçalık, Esra Çakal. Stigmatizing with Discourse: The Effect of Peer Education on Student Nurses’ Beliefs About Mental Illness. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025 Apr. 1;9(1):13-27. doi:10.71230/arsagbil.1569370

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