Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Psychology

Date of Award

5-2023

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Kelly Moore

Committee Members

Meredith Ginley, Stacey Williams

Abstract

The present study drew from the publicly available Amerispeak survey (n = 6,515) and examined public stigma towards different substances, the relationship between preferences for abstinence-based recovery and stigma toward each substance, and whether perceived dangerousness of substances moderates the relationship between preferences for abstinence-based recovery and public stigma. The results indicate that the general public has greater stigmatizing attitudes towards methamphetamine use disorder than cocaine use disorder, opioid use disorder, and alcohol use disorder. Furthermore, a preference for abstinence-based recovery was associated with greater stigmatizing attitudes toward all SUDs. The perceived dangerousness of a substance did not moderate the relationship between preference for abstinence-based recovery and stigmatizing attitudes towards SUDs but was related to public stigma in several models. Results have implications for creating stigma interventions for the general public, which can be adapted for abstinence-based settings, like healthcare organizations and treatment centers.

Document Type

Thesis - embargo

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

Share

COinS