Examination of factors that influence rural residents’ beliefs regarding the dangerousness of justice-involved persons with a mental illness

Abstract

ABSTRACT Barriers experienced by justice-involved persons with a mental illness are exacerbated by structural issues inherent to rural areas, such as limited employment, housing, and healthcare, making rural residents’ beliefs integral to re-entry success. Concerningly, what shapes rural residents’ beliefs is largely unexplored. This study examined what factors (sources, emotions, and familiarity) influenced 284 rural residents’ beliefs regarding the dangerousness of justice-involved persons with a mental illness. Rural residents were most influenced by friends and family. Approximately one-quarter were influenced by social media, one-fifth by the news, one-sixth by academia, and one-seventh by movies/TV. A factorial ANCOVA revealed that even when residents had familiarity with the stigmatized group, if they felt fear, they had significantly higher levels of stigmatizing beliefs regarding dangerousness of justice-involved persons with a mental illness. The relationship between familiarity and stigma may be U-shaped and depend on the emotions experienced during interpersonal interactions. The results suggest that familiarity alone may not reduce stigma. Rather, evoking sympathy may have stigma reducing potential. If family are experiencing negative emotionality, it may help to offer them support and empathy. Alternatively, peer specialists may serve as a substitute, artificially supplying the social capital necessary to assist with re-entry efforts.