What is it about?
This study examines how people diagnosed with depression and people who have never been diagnosed with depression feel and react to the story. While people who have never been diagnosed with depression gained a more positive perspective of mental health issues, people who had been diagnosed may have felt negative about their mental health condition. Based on this research, we argue that people who develop stories about mental health conditions for entertainment should try to create stories that leave all audience members with a positive understanding of mental health conditions like depression.
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Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Most of the research that explores the representation of mental health conditions in media focuses on how neurotypical people (people with a mental health condition) perceive the mental health issue. However, we cannot forget that the same message can have different impacts on people depending on their mental health condition. This work provides some insight into how we can prevent negative outcomes among those with a mental health condition.
Perspectives
This work is based on my dissertation, so I am delighted that others may have a chance to read it and gain knowledge from this work. I will continue to pursue similar research to help build this growing body of knowledge. I am also deeply appreciative of my co-author and former advisor.
Kristina Medero
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mediated intergroup and intragroup contact: Examining the effects of entertainment media on individuals diagnosed and never diagnosed with depression., Stigma and Health, April 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/sah0000631.
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