Effects of Internet-based Storytelling Programs in Reducing Mental Illness Stigma With Mediation by Interactivity and Stigma Content

NCT05333848 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: dre20024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 263
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Mental illness stigma has been a concerning issue globally due to its adverse effects on the recovery of people with mental illness and may delay help-seeking for mental health out of the concern of being stigmatized. With technological advancement, Internet-based mental health stigma reduction interventions have been developed to combat mental illness stigma and the effects have been promising. The present study aimed to examine the differential effects of Internet-based storytelling programs varied on level of interactivity and stigma content in reducing mental illness stigma. In the present study, the investigator hypothesized that an Internet-based storytelling program with a combination of interactivity and stigma content would lead to the most significant reduction in public stigma, microaggression, and social distance from people with mental illnesses, followed by Internet-based storytelling program with stigma content-only and interactivity-only, compared with control. Secondly, the investigator hypothesized that the effects observed in stigma reduction would be mediated by perceived autonomy and immersiveness due to the presence of interactivity.

Conditions

COMBO Condition; STIGMA Condition; INTERACT Condition; CONTROL Condition

Keywords

mental illness stigma; Internet-based; interactivity; storytelling; social distance; microaggression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change from Baseline Public Stigma towards People with Mental Illness within 10 minutes post-experiment, and at 1-week follow-up

  The 21-item Public Stigma Scale-Mental Illness-Short Version was used to assess mental illness public stigma and personal advocacy. Each item was rated on a 6-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Reverse scoring was done for personal advocacy items. Higher scores indicated a higher level of public stigma towards people with mental illness.

  baseline, within 10 minutes post-experiment, and 1-week follow-up

• Change from Baseline Microaggression within 10 minutes post-experiment, and at 1-week follow-up

  Microaggression was measured by the 17-item Mental Illness Microaggressions Scale, which covers assumption of inferiority, patronization, and fear of mental illness. Each item was rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicated a higher level of mircroaggression.

  baseline, within 10 minutes post-experiment, and 1-week follow-up

• Change from Baseline Social Distance from People with Mental Illness within 10 minutes post-experiment, and at 1-week follow-up

  The 8-item Social Distancing Scale was used to measure the social distance from people with mental illnesses. Each item was rated on a 6-point Likert scale from 1 (very willing) to 6 (very unwilling). Higher scores indicated a higher level of social distance from people with mental illness.

  baseline, within 10 minutes post-experiment, and 1-week follow-up

• Perceived autonomy

  To assess perceived autonomy of the Web page experience, the 10-item Self Determination Scale (SDS) was used in the post-experiment questionnaire. Each item was a pair of opposite statements, where participants rated their level of perceived choice and self-awareness with a slider from 1 (only A feels true) to 5 (only B feels true). Higher scores indicated a higher level of perceived autonomy.

  within 10 minutes post-experiment

• Immersiveness

  The 15-item Transportation Scale was used to assess participants' immersiveness in the Web experience. It had a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (very much) to 4 (not at all). Items 2, 5 and 9 were framed negatively. All the items are scored in the direction that higher scores indicated a higher level of immersivenss.

  within 10 minutes post-experiment

Study Arms (4)

COMBO condition

EXPERIMENTAL

An interactive stigma content website.

Behavioral: Internet-based storytelling programs with interactivity and stigma content

STIGMA condition

EXPERIMENTAL

A non-interactive stigma content website.

Behavioral: Internet-based storytelling programs with stigma content only

INTERACT condition

EXPERIMENTAL

An interactive non-stigma content website.

Behavioral: Internet-based storytelling programs with interactivity only

CONTROL condition

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

A non-interactive non-stigma content website.

Behavioral: Internet-based storytelling programs with no interactivity and no stigma content

Interventions

Internet-based storytelling programs with no interactivity and no stigma content BEHAVIORAL

Participants viewed a non-interactive non-stigma content website. Within 10 minutes post-experiment, participants completed the post-experiment questionnaire. One week after the experiment, participants completed the follow-up questionnaire.

CONTROL condition

Internet-based storytelling programs with interactivity and stigma content BEHAVIORAL

Participants viewed an interactive stigma content website. Within 10 minutes post-experiment, participants completed the post-experiment questionnaire. One week after the experiment, participants completed the follow-up questionnaire.

COMBO condition

Internet-based storytelling programs with stigma content only BEHAVIORAL

Participants viewed a non-interactive stigma content website. Within 10 minutes post-experiment, participants completed the post-experiment questionnaire. One week after the experiment, participants completed the follow-up questionnaire.

STIGMA condition

Internet-based storytelling programs with interactivity only BEHAVIORAL

Participants viewed an interactive non-stigma content website. Within 10 minutes post-experiment, participants completed the post-experiment questionnaire. One week after the experiment, participants completed the follow-up questionnaire.

INTERACT condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• aged 18 years or above
• able to read and understand Chinese

You may not qualify if:

• less than 18 years of age
• unable to read or understand Chinese

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, HKG, Hong Kong

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Fong THC, Mak WWS. The Effects of Internet-Based Storytelling Programs (Amazing Adventure Against Stigma) in Reducing Mental Illness Stigma With Mediation by Interactivity and Stigma Content: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Aug 12;24(8):e37973. doi: 10.2196/37973.

  PMID: 35969460 DERIVED

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Microaggression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Aggression; Social Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Winnie Wing-Sze Mak, PhD

  Chinese University of Hong Kong

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: A 2x2 factorial design randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2022
• First Posted: April 19, 2022
• Study Start: December 27, 2020
• Primary Completion: March 4, 2021
• Study Completion: March 4, 2021
• Last Updated: April 19, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)