The Relationship Between Stigma and Self-Reported Willingness to Use Mental Health Services Among Rural and Urban Older Adults

The large number of rural older adults suffering from untreated psychiatric illnesses suggests that stigma may be a significant barrier to the utilization of mental health services in this population. The current study examines self-stigma, public stigma, and attitudes toward specialty mental health care in a community sample of older adults living in a geographically isolated rural area, a rural area adjacent to a metropolitan area, and an urban area. One hundred and 29 older adults age 60 and above from the 3 geographic areas completed self-report measures of these constructs, and differences on the measures were assessed among the groups. Results indicated that older adults living in isolated rural counties demonstrated higher levels of public and self-stigma and lower levels of psychological openness than older adults in urban areas even after accounting for education, employment, and income. However, no differences emerged in reported willingness to use specialized mental health care in the event of significant distress. Results are discussed in the context of rural values, beliefs, and community structural factors. We further suggest that conventional binary rural/urban distinctions are not sufficient to understand the relationship between rurality and stigma.