Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate
impact of knowledge, familiarity, and prejudice about
mental illness as well as demographic factors on the social
distance from mentally ill people, which is a proxy measure
of discrimination.
Method: To assess the impact of knowledge and
familiarity, prejudice about mental illness and demographic
factors on the social distance from mental illness, we
conducted a telephone survey in South Korea with the
responders being nationally representative people who
were 18 years old or over (n=1040). Independent samples
T-tests, one way ANOVA and linear regression analysis
were performed to analyze the results of the survey.
Result: The social distance from mental illness decreased
as the knowledge and familiarity increased, but the social
distance was increased as prejudice was increased.
Prejudice had a greater impact on social distance than
familiarity and knowledge. Females showed greater social
distance than did males. A higher education level had a
negative effect on social distance.
Conclusion: To reduce the social distance from mentally ill
people, efforts to increase the familiarity about mental
illness as well as efforts to educate people about mental
illness are important.