AN ANALYSIS OF THE» ATTITUDES OF LEADING if _‘ - f} f. 3;; if 57 T '
BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS AND BLACK GRADUATE _ : .
. STUDENTS TOWARD THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY: .i -1;

MENTAL HEALTH

Dissertation- for ”the Degree of ‘PAh.’D. ;
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY '
' WALTER CHARLES BARWICK
‘ 1974 '

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ABSTRACT

AN ANALYSIS OF THE ATTITUDES OF LEADING BLACK
PSYCHOLOGISTS AND BLACK GRADUATE STUDENTS
TOWARD THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY
MENTAL HEALTH

By

Walter Charles Barwick

The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes toward
community mental health of black psychologists and black graduate stu-
dents who were enrolled in mental health training programs. Comparisons
were made between the two groups to determine the degree of similarity
of attitudes.

The Opinions About Mental Health Questionnaire, developed by
Nunnally (l96l), was administered to a group of black psychologists who
were considered leaders in the field of black psychology and to a group
of graduate students enrolled in training institutes sponsored by the
National Institute of Mental Health.

Five hypotheses were formulated and tested. Hypothesis I
stated that practicing black psychologists would have significantly
different attitudes toward community mental health than black graduate
students being trained in mental health programs. The second hypothesis
stated that a significant relationship would be found between the sex
of black psychologists and black graduate students and their attitudes

toward community mental health. A third hypothesis was tested to

Halter Charles Barwick

determine if there was a significant relationship between attitudes
toward mental health and the age of black psychologists and black
graduate students. Hypothesis IV predicted a significant relationship
between the attitudes toward mental health of black psychologists and
black graduate students that have lived in urban environments as
compared with those who have lived primarily in suburban areas. The
final hypothesis stated that a significant relationship would be found
between the attitudes toward mental health of black psychologists and
black graduate students who have experienced mental illness with
friends or relatives as compared with those who have not had such
experiences.

The Opinions About Mental Health Questionnaire (OMH) was
administered by the investigator to black graduate students (N = 44)
enrolled in counselor training programs at Michigan State University
and the University of Connecticut at Hartford. All were candidates
for the master of arts degree. The OMH was mailed to a selected
number (N = 50) of prominent black psychologists who were nominated
by two past presidents of the National Association of Black Psycholo-
gists. Thirty-one responses were obtained from this group.

Chi Square tests of significance were used to test the
hypotheses of this study. This was accomplished by using the formula
for comparing group percentages or frequencies (McNemar, l962). In
addition to the primary analyses, several supplementary analyses were
conducted to further describe the attitudes of blacks toward the

concept of community mental health.

Halter Charles Barwick

Hypothesis I was not supported. No significant differences
were found between the mental health attitudes of practicing black
psychologists and black graduate students enrolled in mental health
training programs. In addition, no significant differences were
found between these two groups in terms of their attitudes toward
mental health for any of the ten factors of the OMH.

Hypothesis II was supported. A significant sex difference
was found between females and males when the two groups of psycholo-
gists and students were combined. No differences, however, were found
between the attitudes of (l) female psychologists and female graduate
students, (2) female psychologists and male psychologists, (3) female
students and male students, or (4) male psychologists and male
students.

No support was found for Hypotheses III and IV. Age and being
reared in an urban versus a suburban environment apparently were not
significant variables in determining differences between black psycholo-
gists and graduate students in their attitudes toward mental health.

Hypothesis V was supported. Significant differences were
found between the mental health attitudes for subjects across groups
who reported having had experience with mentally ill friends and rela-
tives as compared with those who had not had such experience.
Significant differences were also found between the attitudes of
psychologists who had experience with mentally ill significant others
as compared with psychologists who had not had this experience.
Similar results were found between the attitudes of psychologists and

graduate students when experience with mentally ill friends or relatives

Halter Charles Barwick

was examined. No differences, however, were found between graduate
students for the variable of experience with mental illness. Like-
wise, no significant differences were obtained when comparisons were
made between black psychologists and graduate students who had not
experienced mental illness among their friends or relatives.
Supplementary and nonhypothesized tests of the results of
this study showed significant differences between the mental health
attitudes of black psychologists and white psychologists/psychiatrists.
These tests, however, must be regarded as tentative due to statistical
constraints. In addition, other supplementary analyses described the

items on the OMH where the subjects of this study reached consensus.

 

 

.NTTTNI‘III

 

AN ANALYSIS OF THE ATTITUDES OF LEADING BLACK
PSYCHOLOGISTS AND BLACK GRADUATE STUDENTS
TOWARD THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY
MENTAL HEALTH

By

Walter Charles Barwick

A DISSERTATION

Submitted to
Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

College of Education

l974

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am deeply indebted to Professor Bob Winborn of the Department
of Counseling, Personnel Services and Educational Psychology of Michi-
gan State University's College of Education for the extreme interest,
creativity, and extensive knowledge be extended as chairman of my
committee.

In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to the other
members of my committee:

Dr. Thomas Gunnings for his knowledge of psychological litera-
ture and his understanding of the related literature. His support in
the collection process of my data was invaluable.

Dr. Herbert Burks for his support and erudite suggestions.

His knowledge about dissertation form and style was extremely helpful.
Dr. Homer Hawkins for his suppport and knowledge about
sociological variables. His encouragement and inspiration are greatly -

appreciated.

I also wish to express gratefulness to Dr. Willie Williams of
the Minority Center, National Institute of Mental Health, for his con-
fidence in my ability and support throughout my graduate studies. It
was because of his encouragement and inspiration that I pursued the
Ph.D. degree.

Thanks to Dorothy Smith for her consultation during the prepa-

ration of this research.

ii

To my wife and family, I would like to express my gratitude for
their support, understanding, and encouragement during the preparation
of this dissertation.

My association with these and other people has been a rewarding
and valuable experience. To these and others I extend my sincere appre-

ciation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES .
LIST OF APPENDICES
Chapter
I. THE PROBLEM, RATIONALE, AND RELATED RESEARCH

Need. .

Purpose of the Study
Review of Literature
Hypotheses .
Overview

II. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

Subjects

Instruments .
Social Variables .
Procedures . .
Statistical Analysis

III. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

Contents of the Chapter
Hypothesis I . . .
Hypothesis II .
Hypothesis III
Hypothesis IV .
Hypothesis V . .
Supplementary Analyses .
Summary. .

IV. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
Summary .
Discussion .
Conclusion .
Recommendations
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES

iv

Page

ix

Table

3.1.

3.2.

3.3.

3.4.

3.5.

3.6.

3.7.

3.8.

3.9.

LIST OF TABLES

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of

Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
the OMH Questionnaire . . . . . .
x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to

Factor #l (Look and Act Different) of the OMH
Questionnaire . . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #2 (Sex Distinction) of the OMH
Questionnaire . . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #3 (Guidance and Support) of the OMH
Questionnaire .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #4 (Environment vs. Personality) of the
OMH Questionnaire . . . . . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #5 (Non-Seriousness) of the OMH
Questionnaire . . . A. . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #6 (Hopelessness) of the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #7 (Age Function) of the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #8 (Organic Causes) of the OMH
Questionnaire .

Page

26

27

27

28

28

29

29

3O

30

Table

3.lO.

3.l7.

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #9 (Will Power) of the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to
Factor #lO (Avoidance) of the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Females and Black Males to the OMH
Questionnaire . . . . . . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Female Psychologists and Black
Female Graduate Students to the OMH
Questionnaire . . . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Female Psychologists and Black Male
Psychologists to the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Female Graduate Students and Black
Male Graduate Students to the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses.
Between Black Male Psychologists and Black Male
Graduate Students to the OMH Questionnaire .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students (20
to 33 Years of Age) to the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students (34
Years of Age and Over) to the OMH Questionnaire

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Psychologists (20 to 33 Years of
Age) and Black Psychologists (34 Years and
Over) to the OMH Questionnaire . . .

X2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Graduate Students (20 to 33 Years
of Age) and Black Graduate Students (34 Years
and Over) to the OMH Questionnaire .

vi

Page

3l

31

32

33

34

34

35

36

36

37

37

 

TNTLI
AlTiII'lNNIN

Table

3.2T.

3.23.

3.24.

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses

Between Black Respondents (20 to 33 Years of Age)
and Black Respondents (34 Years and Over) to the
OMH Questionnaire . . . . . . . .
x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
the OMH Questionnaire Between All Respondents Who
Lived in a Suburban Environment for the First l8
Years of Their Lives
x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists
and Black Graduate Students Who Lived the First
18 Years of Their Lives in a Suburban
Environment

x2 Test of Significance of Differences to Responses
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists
and Black Graduate Students Who Lived the First
l8 Years of Their Lives in an Urban Environment

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists
Who Lived in a Suburban Environment and Those Who
Lived in an Urban Environment for the First l8
Years of Their Lives

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses

to

to

to

to

to

the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Graduate Students

Who Lived in an Urban Environment for the First l8

Years of Their Lives and Those Who Lived in a
Suburban Environment

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses

to

the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Respondents Who

Have Experienced Significant Others With Mental
Illness and Those Who Have Not Had This
Experience . . . . . . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists
Who Have Experienced Significant Others With
Mental Illness and Those Who Have Not Had
This Experience . . . . . . .

X2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists
and Black Graduate Students Who Have Experienced
Significant Others With Mental Illness

vii

to

to

Page

38

39

39

4O

4O

4l

42

44

45

Table

3.30.

3.3l.

3.32.

3.33.

3.34.

3.35.

B.l.

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to

the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Graduate Stu-
cents Who Have Experienced Significant Others
With Mental Illness and Those Who Have Not
Had This Experience . .

x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists
and Black Graduate Students Who Have Not Experi-
enced Significant Others With Mental Illness

x2 Test of Significance of Differences of Responses of
Black Psychologists and White Psychologists/
Psychiatrists to the OMH Questionnaire

Items of the OMH Questionnaire for Which Consensus Was
Observed Among Black Psychologists

Items of the OMH Questionnaire for Which Consensus Was
Observed Among Black Graduate Students

Items of the OMH Questionnaire for Which Consensus Was
Observed for Black Psychologists and Graduate
Students . . . . . . .

Demographic Data for Black Psychologists and Black
Graduate Students Used in This Study . .

viii

Page

46

46

48

49

50

5l

74

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page
A. The Opinions About Mental Health Questionnaire . . . . 67

8. Demographic Data for Black Psychologists and Black

Graduate Students Used in This Study . . . . . . . 73
C. Factors of the OMH . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
D. Items Included in the Ten Factors of the OMH . . . . . 79
E. General Information Form . . . . . . . . . . . 84
F. Cover Letter to Psychologists . . . . . . . . . . 86

ix

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM, RATIONALE, AND RELATED RESEARCH

Need

 

Heart disease and cancer are two of America's greatest killers,
yet the victims of these diseases are not perceived by the general
population of the United States as being disgraced or repulsive
because of their illnesses. While physical diseases such as tubercu-
losis, syphilis, and cancer have stigmatized their victims at one time,
the stigmatization has not been a deterrent toward identifying and
controlling these diseases. The Joint Commission on Mental Illness
and Health (l960) has noted that the public has faced these problems
and attacked them by getting research and treatments in these areas.
Public information about these and other diseases seems to have
caused a decline in public fear of these victims.

Psychological illness is not seen as a killer of people but
as a waster of human potential. Moreover, when compared to physical
illness, this type of human difficulty is considered by the general
public to be a stigma. Dubos (l959) has indicated that there even
seems to be a rejection of certain forms of mental disability that
society had heretofore tolerated. For instance, the semi-senile,
the extremely timid person, or the village fool can now be found in

institutions when once they resided in the community.

Societal treatment of the mentally ill has often been the
subject of criticism, yet the appropriate care of the mentally ill
remains an unfinished business. For example, the Joint Commission on
Mental Health (l960) portrays mental illness as a major health problem
and has given wide publicity to the need for understanding those who
are afflicted. The stigma of mental illness, however, continues to
be attached to individuals who are institutionalized in mental
hospitals or who are out-patientS'h1a community. The attitudes of
the general public seem to resist change in spite of the various edu—
cational efforts that have been made toward understanding mental
illness.

Mental health or illness has never elicited the strong support
from the public that physical health has enjoyed. In fact, it seems
that the mentally ill lack appeal. DeRopp (l957) summed it succinctly
when he said:

Madness severs the strongest bonds that hold human beings
together. It separates husband from wife, mother from child.
It is death without death's finality and without death's
dignity (p. 167).

The Congress of the United States has recognized the problems
posed by the attitudes toward and treatment of the mentally ill of
our nation. In l955, Congress enacted the Mental Health Study Act
which provided for an objective nationwide analysis and re-evaluation
of the human and economic problems of mental illness. This study
resulted in resolutions that specifically pointed out that:

l. Experience with certain community out-patient clinics

and rehabilitation centers would seem to indicate that

many mental patients could be better treated on an out-
patient basis at much lower costs than by a hospital.

2. Mental illness is frequently a component of such nationwide
problems as alcoholism, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency,
broken homes, school failures, absenteeism and job malad-
justment in industry, suicide and similar problems.

The above resolutions clearly stressed the need for the concept

of community mental health.

In l960, the federal government directed the National Institute

of Mental Health to conduct another study. The Joint Commission on

Mental Illness and Health was appointed to study the problem of mental

health. Their report, entitled Action for Mental Health, was submitted

 

to Congress in December, 1960. One of the recommendations stated
that:
Community Mental Health clinics serving both children and
adults, should be operated as out-patient departments of gen-
eral or mental hospitals. These clinics may be part of a
state or regional system, or independent agencies. In any
case, they should be regarded as a main line of defense in
reducing the need for prolonged or repeated hospitalization.
' A national mental health program should set as an objective
one fully staffed, full-time mental health clinic available
to each 50,000 of population (p. l65).

As a result of these two studies, community mental health
centers have been established across the nation. Concurrently, the
public appears to be becoming increasingly aware of the concept of
community mental health. This increased awareness seems most evident
in the cities of this country where the majority of community mental
health centers have been established.

During the period of time when community mental health cen-
ters were being established, the major urban areas of the United
States were becoming increasingly inhabited by Black Americans. In

cities such as Detroit, Washington, D.C., and New York City, Blacks

comprise 50 percent or better of the population. Yet, relatively
little attention has been paid to the problem of mental health in
black communities. In addition, almost no research has been conducted
by black researchers as to how community mental health is perceived by
Blacks.

Halpert (l965) noted that community attitudes about mental
health and those who administer treatment showed a positive increase
in importance since the national emphasis on community-based treatment
of mental disorders. An appraisal of such attitudes is essential in
planning effective programs of treatment and prevention. Such an
appraisal appears to be especially needed for planning treatment and
prevention programs of mental health for the black communities of
this nation.

The results of this study will provide knowledge and informa-
tion about the attitudes of black psychologists and black mental
health graduate students toward community mental health concepts.
Since knowledge concerning the current practices in mental health is
imparted to students by the established professionals, an understand-
ing of the attitudes of both professional psychologists and students
is deemed essential for the maximum utilization of mental health
facilities and greater acceptance of responsibility for black com-
munity inhabitants.

The assessment of the attitudes of black graduate students
toward mental health will enable inferences to be made from this
study relative to the training programs of students. There is an

obvious need for more information about the effect that training

programs have on black graduate students. Such information would
alSo permit universities and mental health institutes to do a more
adequate job of selecting students for mental health training programs.

This study will also be useful to organizations such as the
National Association of Black Psychologists. Such organizations can
provide programs for informing their members of the implications of
community mental health programs for the black population and the
attitudes of students who are preparing to take positions in such
programs.

The greatest impact of the findings of this study may be in
the area of treatment programs for Blacks. The participants of this
study are the administrators, consultants, and future directors of
mental health programs. Their attitudes toward mental health will
directly affect future programs in terms of how they are designed and
implemented.

The black graduate students enrolled in mental health train-
ing programs who participated in this study were trained under a
systemic approach to counseling. Philosophically, the systemic
approach places the onus for problems on systems and environmental
pressures. The opinions of these students, therefore, may be signifi-

cantly innovative in terms of their attitudes toward mental health.

Purpose of the Study
In the past there has been very little research on the atti- .
tudes of black psychologists. The National Association of Black
Psychologists is presenting a stand that research done on and about

Blacks should be done by Blacks or with black leadership. Thomas (l970),

past president of the National Association of Black Psychologists,
points out this need in the following:
White psychologists have raped Black communities all over the
country. Yes, raped! They have used Black people as the human
equivalent of rats run through Ph.D. experiments and as help-
less clients for programs that serve middle class white
administrators better than they do the poor. They have used
research on Black people as green stamps to trade for research
grants. They have been vultures (p. 52).
Williams (1974), another past president of the National Associ-
ation of Black Psychologists, said:
The perspective of white researchers was misguided and mis-
focused. Instead of defining the strengths of the Black
community and the extent to which it managed to survive in an
oppressive society, the focus was almost exclusively on the
pathology of the ghetto (p. 116).
He also stated that:

Black behavioral scientists looked at the same community and
saw unusual strengths rather than weaknesses (p. 117).

These two opinions point out the need for assessing the atti-
tudes of black psychologists toward the concept of community mental
health by black researchers.

Studies have been conducted concerning how white psychologists
feel about the attitudes toward the concept of community mental health.
For example, Nunnally (1969) conducted a study on white psychologists
from the American Psychological Association for the purpose of assessing
their opinions toward the concept of mental health. However, no
studies were located that assessed how black psychologists feel about
the concept of mental health. Therefore, this study will concentrate
on the attitudes of black psychologists and black mental health students
toward the concept of community mental health. This will provide data for

a comparisoncrfattitudes of community mental healtiiacrossracial lines.

Review of Literature

 

The establishment of the National Institute of Mental Health
has given rise to much research concerning the attitudes of the public
toward mental health. However, most of the literature has concentrated
specifically on mental illness, one part of mental health. Also,
there exists a paucity of literature on mental health attitudes and
the black community. The following review of the literature and
research shows these trends. The literature will be presented
according to the following pattern and categories: identification of
mental illness, understanding attitudes toward mental health, treat-

ment, and community mental health programs.

Identification of Mental Illness

It has been argued (Phillips, 1967) that the increased ability
of the public to identify mental illness may lead to greater public
acceptance of the mentally ill. However, Phillips found from a pilot
study of 86 randomly selected adults that the ability to correctly
identify behavior with mental illness was associated with rejection.

Using identification as an indicator, Lemkau, Spiro, and
Crocetti (1972) found in their study of the public's attitudes
toward mental illness that a majority of the respondents were able to
recognize certain illnesses. They descriptively identified the simple
schizophrenic, the paranoid, and the alcoholic. Thus, the authors
concluded that there was no tendency on the part of the public to
deny mental illness and that popular attitudes toward mental illness

are changing.

Crocetti §t_al, (1972) investigated the attitudes of the public
toward mental illness and reported that (1) the public is able to
identify the simple schizophrenic, the alcoholic, and the juvenile
character disorder as mentally ill and in need of medical care, (2) the
public is generally accepting of the medical model of mental illness,
and (3) the public is optimistic about the prognosis of the mentally
111.

Understanding the Attitudes
Toward Mental Health

 

 

Using specific attitudes as variables, Dijkstra (1972) investi-
gated how the public viewed mental patients. The aspects of mental
illness considered were recognizability, danger, prognosis, causes,
seriousness, and social consequences. The findings revealed that
many did not have a clear understanding of mental illness, but had
some knowledge of persons suffering from it. There was a readiness to
associate with someone who has been in a mental hospital but readiness
decreased when it took place in one's personal sphere of life. The
results showed a significant belief that the mentally ill would recover
completely and a high level of confidence that they constituted no
threat to others. Finally, it was noted that actual contact with the
mentally ill had no direct relationship with favorable attitudes
toward them.

Awareness is a key factor in understanding the mentally ill
and mental health concepts. Gurin, Veroff, and Feld (1960) conducted
a study which indicated that public information related to mental

health and human behavior has, in recent years, increased general

understanding of mental health. It was noted that younger and better-
educated people exposed to mental health information have more appreci-
ation of the mental health profession as a helping resource.

Smith (1972) conducted a comparative study on mental health
with students at Michigan State University enrolled in sociology
classes. The results of her research indicated that little change in
mental health attitudes has occurred in the last decade among students
at a large university. She also found that knowledge about mental
health concepts is only slightly related to ten social characteristics
used in the study, with the exception of age where a stronger relation-
ship was found.

Sarbin and Mancus (1970) compared the published reports of the
public's attitudes toward mental illness and deviant conduct. The
reported analysis indicated that the mental illness paradigm as a
formula for understanding and controlling deviant conduct has not
been widely accepted by the public. The reports revealed that the
central objective of the mental health movement has been to influence
the general public to regard mental illness with the same non-rejecting
valuations as somatic illness. The authors indicated that social
survey reports concluded that the public tends to declare negative
valuations on persons diagnosed as mentally ill, but, on the other
hand, the public tends to be more tolerant of deviant conduct when
not described with mental illness classifications.

‘Educating the public about mental health is seen as an important
factor in community mental health. Nunnally (1961) investigated the

extent to which opinion items were repudiated or supported as being

lO

necessary in a public information program. He compared the responses
of white clinical and counseling psychologists to psychiatrists. No
significant differences were found between psychologists and psychi-
atrists, nor between clinical and counseling orientations. The experts
were in strong agreement about some of the points of view to advocate
to the public.

Two of Nunnally's factors showed disagreement between schools
of thought. One point of disagreement concerned the kind of psycho-
therapy to be given clients. There were those psychologists who
advocated a directive and interventionist role for the therapist as
opposed to those psychiatrists who believed in a more passive role of
listening and understanding. This difference of opinion about treatment
is a well-known controversy. Another point of disagreement between
psychologists and psychiatrists was causal factors. There seemed to
be differenCes of opinions as to what causes mental illness. Psycholo-
gists as a group showed more doubt about organic and physical explana-
tions of mental disorders than psychiatrists. On the whole there were
no statistically significant differences between the opinions of
psychiatrists and psychologists.

The average layman expressed rejection of the superstitious
and obvious misconception about mental health. Nunnally concluded
that if the issue is one of informing the uninformed, the problem is
less complicated, "for it seems easier to supply people with new
information when they hold few competing opinions initially than to

convert well established opinions (p. 28).”

ll

Professionals in the mental health field realize that stigma-
tization of the mentally ill is a problem. Nunnally's research (1961)
attempted to show (1) to what extent the mentally ill are held in low
esteem, (2) whether the public holds different kinds of attitudes
toward different kinds of mental illness, and (3) whether attitudes
toward the mentally ill correlated with education and age. Results
indicated that the mentally ill are regarded with fear and distrust
by the public. There were some differences in the kinds of information
held by old as compared with young, and by the I'more educated” as
compared with the "less educated.” No significant levels, however,
were reached. There was a tendency for the "more educated" to hold
less derogatory attitudes toward the mentally ill. It was noted that
old and young, "highly educated" and ”poorly educated,” all seemed to
regard the menta11y ill as relatively dangerous, unpredictable, and
worthless. The author concluded that such negative attitudes may be

due to lack of awareness, understanding, and inadequate public informa-

tion.

Treatment

New directions in mental health (Rusk, l972)note the failure
of traditional therapeutic approaches and point to the need to find
more productive ways to care for the mentally ill. Rusk maintains
that much of the reason for this failure is that intrapsychic factors
are often irrelevant in urban centers where environmental conditions
are inadequate for stable mental health. He states that partial care
rather than institutionalization is proving to be more effective in

reducing mental disturbances. Public attitudes also appear to be

12

changing toward the provision of mental health services as part of a

comprehensive medical program.

Community Mental Health Programs

 

There is a shortage of trained mental health personnel. Yet,
the increased awareness of mental illness and the growing demand from
communities for mental health clinics evidences a discrepancy between
supply and demand. In a study of community resources in mental health,
Robinson et al. (1960) observed that:

Local community leaders are hungry for advice and help on what
to do and how to do it. This interest runs all the way from
how to conduct local studies to advice on what kinds of mental
health services and programs to establish. There is a great
deal of confusion in regard to what kinds of supportive mental
health services communities should be developing. Efforts to
formulate mental health programs are too often haphazard and
uncoordinated, well intentioned, but amateurish and without
professional guidance (p. 269).

In their consideration of the kinds of community resources
concerned with mental health, the authors noted that public health,
public welfare, child welfare, court services, public schools,
recreation, church, family agencies, and mental health clinics use a
fragmented approach to mental health for a myriad of reasons. As a
result of their study, the following recommendations were made:

1. Cultural, social, and economic settings vary and the
effects of these factors make it imperative that community mental
health programs be shaped according to local needs.

2. States must provide in-depth consultation to locales for
planning.

3. The shortage of mental health personnel makes a pressing

national need for an effort to recruit college graduates from the

13

existing manpower pool for advanced graduate work. Then, initial
expanded selling of the mental health field is needed.

4. An ongoing research program should be established to
conduct studies and experiments in the epidemiology of mental illness,
cultural factors in mental illness and health, and methods to supply
additional services to fill the gaps in mental health resources.

Yolles (1967) indicated that the magnitude of the mental
health problem in terms of population expansion, urbanization, and
familiar changes calls for different patterns of social action and new
alliances. Changes in public attitudes toward mental illness following
World War II have led to the acceptance of the principles of a
national, community-based program of mental health services. Such a
program would provide available services to all residents of a locale
and continuity of care in the treatment of the individual patient.
Cooperation between mental health personnel and other health profes-
sionals is a necessity. Curricular changes in university programs
are required to prepare mental health and medical professionals to
accept the responsibility to improve the quality of man's life and

his environment.

Summary
The literature tends to show that the public can identify

some fOrms of mental illness and attitudes toward the mentally ill

are changing. With the change in attitudes from fear and nonacceptance
to understanding, comes the demand for more services for those in

need. The trend seems to be toward community mental health clinics

comprising comprehensive services for its residents.

14

A search of the literature evidenced a scarcity of studies of
mental illness and mental health related to the black community or
black professionals. No studies were located which indicated black

respondents or the use of race as a factor.

Hypotheses

 

The following hypotheses were tested during this investigation.

Hypothesis 1: Practicing black psychologists have signifi-
cantly different attitudes toward the concept of community
mental health than black graduate students being trained

in mental health programs.

 

Hypothesis II: There is a significant relationship between
the sex of black psychologists and black graduate students
and their attitudes toward community mental health.

 

Hypothesis III: There is a significant relationship between
attitudes toward mental health and the age of black psycholo-
gists and black graduate students.

 

Hypothesis IV: There is a significant relationship between
the attitudes toward mental health of black psychologists

and black graduate students that have lived in urban environ-
ments as compared with those who have lived in suburban
environments.

 

Hypothesis V: There is a significant relationship between
the attitudes toward mental health of black psychologists
and black graduate students who have experienced mental ill-
ness with friends or relatives as compared with those who
have not had such experiences.

 

Overview
The organization of the study is as follows: In Chapter II,
the experimental subjects, sociological variables, instrument, and sta-
tistical design will be discussed. Chapter III will present the
results of the analysis of the data. A discussion of the results,

conclusions, and a summary are given in Chapter IV.

CHAPTER II

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter contains four main sections. The first section
gives a brief description of the subjects that participated in the
investigation. The second provides a description of the Opinions
About Mental Health (OMH) attitude scale which was given to partici-
pants. The five social characteristics collected for each subject and
which were related to community mental health attitudes are described
in the third section. The fourth presents the design and statistical

procedures used during the study.

Subjects

The subjects that responded to the community mental health
attitude scale were black graduate students and black psychologists.
Thirty students at Michigan State University and 16 students of the
University of Connecticut at Hartford were administered the OMH.
However, two questionnaires were found to be improperly completed and
were not included in the results of this investigation. All subjects
were enrollees in urban counseling training institutes sponsored by
the National Institute of Mental Health during the 1973-74 academic
year. The institute programs led to the master of arts degree. The
student group for whom complete results were available from the admin-

istration of the OMH was comprised of 24 males and 20 females.

15

16

Students who participated in the urban counseling institutes
represented all geographical areas of the United States. To be selected
for an institute, the students had to possess an A.B. or 8.8. degree
from an accredited college or university. They also were required to
have a background of prior involvement in urban communities and to
have demonstrated an interest in returning to work in urban communities
upon obtaining their M.A. degrees.

Although these graduate students cannot be said to represent
a random sample of all black students in mental health training pro-
grams in the United States, they do represent two different training
programs where a considerable number of black students were concen-
trated who came from various geographical areas of the nation. To what
extent the opinions of black students in this study would differ from
those of a random sample of all black mental health students at this
point in time is unknown; however, it would seem unlikely that such
differences would be significant.

Two past presidents of the National Association of Black
Psychologists were each asked to submit lists of sixty nationally
known leading black psychologists involved in the area of community
mental health. A third list of sixty nationally known leading black
psychologists was compiled by the researcher. The basis for selection
on each of these lists were: contributions to black psychology,
publications, research performed, and papers or programs presented
nationally by these individuals. Fifty of the black psychologists
were selected on the basis of being nominated on at least two of the

above mentioned lists.

17

This group of subjects was confined to black psychologists
due to limited resources, and because there are very few studies con-
ducted on black psychologists as a group. The inclusion of other
black mental health experts, such as social workers, social anthropolo-
gists, and sociologists would have resulted in a more extensive
survey of attitudes toward community mental health. However, the
difficulty and expense in locating black mental health workers in
disciplines other than psychology were so great that the sample was
limited to selected black psychologists.

At this point in history, the number of black psycholgists
is not of sufficient size to warrant a random sample of this group.
No effort, therefore, was made to obtain a representative sample of
black psychologists. The emphasis was placed on obtaining a sample
of the leaders among the black psychologists. Fifty leaders were
selected by the process mentioned above and their responses to the
OMH questionnaire were solicited by mail.

Obviously, there is a question as to how representative this
group of black psychologists is of the total population of black
psychologists. The group, however, can be considered representative
of leaders among black psychologists.

Demographic characteristics of the subjects surveyed in this

investigation can be seen in Appendix B.

Instrument

 

The questionnaire that was used for surveying the attitudes of
black graduate students and black psychologists toward community

mental health was primarily based on Nunnally's (1961) work (see

18

Appendix A). The instrument consists of 56 opinion items concerning
mental health. It is self-administering and has provisions for one

of two responses, "Agree" or ”Disagree." If an item was left blank,

it was not scored. Nunnally was interested in the particular direction
that attitudes represent, not the degree of depth of the attitude.

In constructing the instrument used for this study, Nunnally
collected 3,000 statements related to causes, symptoms, prognosis,
treatment, incidence, and social significance of mental health problems
from three primary sources. One source consisted of expert opinions
taken from mental hygiene books. A second source was professional
publications which provided opinion items from those doing research
or writing in the area of mental health. The third source was 200
public information pamphlets and other media which were available to
the general public. The content of newspapers, magazines, radio and
television programs were examined for Opinion items concerning mental
health.

Two hundred personal interviews were also conducted with an
"opinion panel” which was organized for that particular purpose. The
respondents lived in central Illinois and the panel was an approximate
representation of the United States population in terms of education,
sex ratio, income, religious affiliation, and age. Eight of those
interviewed were mothers with children in psychotherapy and twelve
interviews were with wives of men who were in mental hospitals. The
interviews revealed a wide range of public opinions, such as the
belief that the blood of the insane is blue to a belief that mental

illness is not a hopeless condition.

19

The 3,000 statements obtained by the procedures mentioned above
were then examined for duplication in meaning. Two hundred and forty
items remained after the initial selection process.

Three studies were conducted in order to condense and refine
the instrument. Major dimensions of public information about mental
health phenomena were identified by Nunnally (1957) in a survey of
residents of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. A second study involved
factor analysis of the items. Nunnally1(1957)was able to identify
ten major factors and to reduce the number of items on the questionnaire
to 50. The new form was used in studies conducted in Knoxville,
Tennessee, and in Eugene, Oregon, to test the application of the
information factors on the general public.

After several years of experimenting with the SO-item form of
the OMH, Nunnally (1961) expanded the instrument to a final 60-item
form. Four items from Nunnally's (1961) revised attitude scale were
removed from the present study because of duplication of items. Fifty-
six items, then, were contained in the instrument administered to
black students and psychologists.

Attitude scales present some methodological problems. Validity,
reliability, questionnaire construction, sampling, and administration
are some of the problems frequently mentioned in the literature.
Nunnally's (1961) instrument seems to overcome these problems very
well. The instrument is a self-administered questionnaire and all the
items were expressed in a language the average person with a high
school education could understand. The method of questionnaire con-

struction has been described above and appears to follow accepted

20

procedure for the development of this type of instrument. Nunnally
was assisted with construction of this instrument by Osgood who
developed the Semantic Differential Test (Osgood, Suci, and Tannenbaum,
1957).

Nunnally's scale was the subject of his book Popular Concep-

 

tions of Mental Health (1961) and on many occasions has been used by

 

researchers interested in attitudes about mental health. He has
published at least seven significant pieces of research (1957, l958a,
l958b, l958c, l958d, 1959a, 1959b, 1961) on measurement of attitudes
aboUt mental health since 1957.

The validity of the OMH depends upon its internal consistency
and content validity. A factor analysis was conducted on the 22 items
that showed the largest standard deviations. A correlational matrix
was developed and analyzed by the principal axes method. Communality
estimates were used to fill the diagonal elements of the matrix. A
series of single plane rotations were used on the five factors with
the largest variance to obtain orthogonal solution. Results of the
factor analysis demonstrated that there are different schools of
thought about mental health and that there were items that differenti-
ated between psychologists and psychiatrists.

There is evidence to support the inference that response set
tendencies should not influence the scores of this questionnaire
(Nunnally, 1961). Nunnally attempted to decrease the tendencies of
people to agree with all item forms by including a check-recheck item
pattern of duplicate items. This was an attempt to make sure the

phrasing of an item didn't influence the response (Nunnally and Husek,

21

1958a). Nunnally (1958b) also conducted studies to test the clarity
of rating procedures and the directions for self-administration of the
questionnaire. He did not rely on single questions but used repeti-
tious items with some changes being made in similar items to check the
responses of subjects.

Smith (1972) conducted a study that has given the best evidence
for reliability of the OMH scale. Smith found that there was no dif-
ference between responses of sociology students at Michigan State
University to the OMH in 1962 as compared to a similar group who
responded to the OMH in 1972. She reported reliability coefficients
of .978 and .958. This suggests a positive test for reliability.

Nunnally has made more attempts at establishing the validity
and reliability of the OMH than is done for most opinions or attitude
scales. Also research such as that done by Smith (1972) indicates
the instrument is suitable for research of the type presented by this

investigation.

Social Variables
As previously stated, Nunnally's questionnaire was shown to
contain ten factors (see Appendix C and Appendix D). These ten fac-
tors have been related to five social variables in order to determine
if certain social characteristics may influence the attitudes of black
students and psychologists about community mental health. The ten
factors are listed below and are paired with the relevant social

variables.

22

 

Factors Social Variables
1. Look and act different Experience
2. Sex distinction Sex

3. Guidance and support Experience
4. Hopelessness Attitude

5. External causes vs. personality Environment
6. Non-seriousness Attitude

7. Age function Age

8. Organic causes Environment
9. Will power Experience
10. Avoidance Experience

A social variable was derived for each factor by means of
logical analysis. For example, it logically follows that the attitudes
of people toward mentally ill individuals will depend on their expgrjy
egg§_with such people as to whether they look and act differently from
the so-called normal population. Likewise, it is assumed that the sex
of a respondent will be an important variable in determining the
attitudes of individuals toward the items which comprise the sex dis-
tinction factor of the mental health questionnaire. 1

Specifically, the social variables and their corresponding
factors from the mental health attitude questionnaire were studies in
an attempt to answer the following questions:

1. What is the relationship between the age of respond-

ents and their attitude toward community mental
health?

2. What is the relationship between the sex of respond-

ents and their attitudes toward community mental
health?

23

3. What is the relationship between the type of environ-
ment in which respondents were reared (farm, rural,
non-farm, small town, city) and their attitudes toward
community mental health?

4. What is the relationship between experience with mental
illness (relatives or close friends) by respondents and
their attitudes toward community mental health?

Data relevant to the social variables listed above were
obtained from the subjects of this study by requesting them to complete
a general information form (see Appendix E) at the time they responded
to the community mental health questionnaire. All subjects gave the

requested information.

Procedures

 

The Opinions About Mental Health attitude scale (OMH) was
administered to black graduate students enrolled in the Michigan State
University and the University of Connecticut-Hartford Urban Counseling
Programs (N = 41) during one of their scheduled classes by the investi-
gator. The students were told of the purpose of the study and that the
responses of each student would be kept confidential. They were
encouraged to give frank and honest responses to the attitude scale.
They were also instructed that the attitude scale would take approxi-
mately 25 minutes to complete.

The 50 black psychologists were mailed the OMH attitude scale
along with a covering letter (see Appendix F) that explained the pur-
pose of the study. Thirty-one questionnaires were returned. The
returns included questionnaires from 24 males and 7 females. Nineteen

subjects did not respond.

 

24

The responses of subjects were scored and recorded by the
investigator. These data were then compiled to facilitate statistical

computations and data analysis.

Statistical Analysis

Chi square tests of significance were used to test the
hypotheses of this study. Observations were arranged in the form of
two-by-two contingency tables. Independence of relationships between
black graduate students and black psychologists were determined for
age, sex, environment in which subjects were reared, and experience
With mentally ill family members and friends. Within each set of
relationships, different categories for each variable were analyzed.

The formula for comparing groups (McNemar, 1962) by means of
the chi square test of differences between frequencies or percentages

is as follows:

2 0 (AD - BC)2N

X "' g§=1A+Biic+oflA+c1 (3+0)
0

N

 

In addition to the tests relevant to the hypotheses, several
supplementary analyses were conducted to provide additional information
of interest and to further describe the attitudes of blacks toward the
concept of community mental health. Chi square tests were used in con-

ducting the supplementary analyses.

 

 

CHAPTER III

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

This chapter contains a report of the statistical analysis of
the results of the study. Since the chi square test of significance
was used to test all of the hypotheses of this study, the data have
been arranged in two-way contingency tables by group and response
category. The predetermined level of confidence to indicate support

for any hypothesis was .05.

Hypothesis I

 

Table 3.1 presents the results of the data relevant to
Hypothesis 1. This hypothesis was stated as follows:

Practicing black psychologists have significantly different
attitudes toward the concept of community mental health than
black graduate students being trained in mental health programs.

The results shows in Table 3.1 do not support Hypothesis 1.

No significant differences in attitudes toward mental health as
measured by the OMH Questionnaire were found between black psycholo-
gists and black graduate students enrolled in mental health training
programs. In fact, the chi square value of .65 was so small that
the two groups appear to be homogenous in terms of their attitudes
toward community mental health. To reach significance at the .05
level of confidence, the chi square value would have to reach 3.841.

A higher proportion of both groups of subjects disagreed with the items

of the OMH than agreed.
25

26

TABLE 3.l.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to the
OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree

Psychologists 578 963 1,541
(N = 31)

Students 828 1,304 2,132

(N = 44) —————— ——————

Total 1,406 2,267 3,673

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .65

Analysis of the Factors of the OMH

As pointed out in Chapter II, Nunnally (l957) performed a fac-
tor analysis of the items of the OMH Questionnaire. He located ten
factors (see Appendix C and Appendix 0). Since Hypothesis I was not
supported, in terms of responses by subjects to all items of the OMH
questionnaire, it was of interest to determine if black psychologists
and black graduate students differed significantly on any of the
specific factors of the OMH. Tables 3.2 through 3.11 show the results

of chi square tests for the responses of the two groups of subjects.

27

TABLE 3.2.-~x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #1 (Look and Act Different) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 37 128 165
(N = 31)
Students 36 178 214
(N = 44) -————— -——~—— —————-
Total 73 306 379

 

ngrees of freedom: 1
x = 1.82

TABLE 3.3.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #2 (Sex Distinction) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agreee Disagree
Psychologists 52 52 104
(N = 31)
Students 69 79 148
(N = 44) -————- —————— -—————
Total ' 121 131 252

 

Dggrees of freedom: 1
x = .29

28

TABLE 3.4.-—-—x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #3 (Guidance and Support) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 68 114 182
(N = 31)
Students 114 144 258
(N = 44) ——m- —-—— -—~——
Total 182 258 440

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 2.09

TABLE 3.5.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #4 (Environment vs. Personality) of the OMH

 

 

 

Questionnaire.
Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 59 75 134
(N = 31)
Students 97 100 197
(N = 44) -————- —-———— ——————
Total 156 175 331

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .87

29

TABLE 3.6.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #5 (Non-Seriousness) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 104 130 234
(N = 31)
Students 137 178 315
(N = 44) ———-— ——-—— ——————-
Total 241 308 549

 

Dggrees of freedom: 1
x = .04

TABLE 3.7.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #6 (Hopelessness) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group ' Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 34 55 89
(N = 31)
Students 47 75 122
(N = 44) ——-——- ——-—-— -——~—-
‘Total 81 130 211

 

d

Degrees of freedom:
x2 = .002

30

TABLE 3.8.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #7 (Age Function) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 115 166 281
(N = 31)
Students 167 202 369
(N = 44) —————— ——-——— —————-
Total 282 368 650

 

Dggrees of freedom: 1
x = 1.27

TABLE 3.9.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #8 (Organic Causes) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree '
Psychologists 33 68 101
(N = 31)
Students 47 102 149
(N = 44) -—-——- ————- -————-
Total 80 170 250

 

Osgrees of freedom: 1
x. = .04

31

TABLE 3.10.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #9 (Will Power) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Psychologists 35 52 87
(N = 31)
Students 53 74 127
(11:44). —— —— ——-
Total 88 126 214
Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .05

TABLE 3.11.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students to Fac-
tor #10 (Avoidance) of the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
. Agree Disagree
Psychologists 42 121 163
(N = 31)
Students 64 161 225
(N = 44) -————— ———-- -—-—-
Total 106 282 388

 

Osgrees of freedom: 1
x = .32

32

No significant differences were observed for any of the factors
of the OMH. (The relatively small chi square values indicate that the
psychologists and graduate students are 1mmmgenous in terms of their
attitudes toward community mental health. In other words, the proportion
of black psychologists indicating agreement or disagreement on the various
items composing the factors of the OMH was relatively similar to the

proportion of black graduate students making these responses to the OMH.

Hypothesis II

 

The chi square values obtained for the tests of Hypothesis II
are shown in Tables 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, and 3.16. Hypothesis II
was stated as follows:
There is a significant relationship between the sex of
black psychologists and black graduate students and their atti-
tudes toward community mental health.
The results of the chi square test of the differences in responses

of black females and black males to the OMH Questionnaire are shown in

Table 3.12.

TABLE 3.12.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in ReSponses of
Black Females and Black Males to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Groups Total
Agree Disagree

Black females 552 792 1,344
(N = 27)

Black males 854 1,475 ‘ 2,329

(N = 48) -————- -————— . -————-

Total 1,406 2,267 3,673

 

Osgrees of freedom: 1
x = 6.92. (Significant at the .02 level of confidence.)

33

Sex differences in attitudes toward mental health were also
studied for the following: (1) female psychologists versus female
graduate students, (2) female psychologists versus male psychologists,
(3) female graduate students versus male graduate students, and
(4) male psychologists versus male graduate students. No significant
differences between these sex groupings were observed. The chi square
tests for these sex differences are shown in Tables 3.13, 3.14, 3.15,

and 3.16.

TABLE 3.13.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Female Psychologists and Black Female
Graduate Students to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black female
psychologist 147 205 352
(N=7)
Black female
raduate student 405 587 982
N = 20 -————— —-—-—- -—————
, Total 552 792 1,344

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .11

34

TABLE 3.14.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Female Psychologists and Black Male
Psychologists to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black female
psychologists 147 205 352
(N=7)
Black male
psychologists 436 739 1,175
(N = 24) ——-—— —-————
Total 583 944 1,527

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 2.43

TABLE 3.15.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Female Graduate Students and Black Male
Graduate Students to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black female
raduate student 405 587 992
N=20)
Black male
raduate student 420 719 1,139
714:2); . __ ___.__. __
Total 825 1,306 2,131

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 3.40

 

re: 'fl-EWIFT

35

TABLE 3.16.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Male Psychologists and Black Male Graduate
Students to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree

Black male psychologists 436 739 1,175
(N = 24)

Black male graduate students 420 719 1,139

(N = 24) -~—-— -———-— ——-—-—

Total 856 1,458 2,314

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .10

Hypothesis III

 

Hypothesis III was stated as follows:
There is a significant relationship between attitudes
toward mental health and the age of black psychologists and
black graduate students.
Hypothesis III was not supported. Chi square tests were con—
ducted to determine if significant differences existed between
(1) psychologists and graduate students in the age category of 20-33
years of age, (2) psychologists and graduate students in the age category
of 34 years and over, (3) psychologists who were 20-33 years of age and
psychologists 34 years of age and older, (4) graduate students who were
20-33 years of age and graduate students who were 34 years and older,
and (5) all subjects who were 20-33 years of age and subjects who were
34 years of age and older. The results of these tests and their sup-
porting data are presented in Tables 3.17 through 3.21. None of the

tests for any of the age groupings of subjects was significant. All

chi square values were relatively small.

36

TABLE 3.17.—-x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students (20 to

33 Years of Age) to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists
(20 to 33 years of age) 194 341 535
(N = 11)
Black graduate students
(20 to 33 years of age) 602 966 1,568
(N = 33) —————- —-——- —————-
Total 796 1,307 2,103
Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .99
TABLE 3.18.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses of
Black Psychologists and Black Graduate Students (34 Years
of Age and Over) to the OMH Questionnaire.
Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists
(34 years and over) 384 622 1,006
(N = 20)
Black graduate students
(34 years and over) 226 338 564
(N = 11) —————- —————- ————-—
Total 610 960 1,570

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .55

37

TABLE 3.19.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Psychologists (20 to 33 Years of Age) and
Black Psychologists (34 Years and Over) to the OMH

 

 

 

Questionnaire.
Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists
(20-33 years of age) 194 341 535
(N = 11)
Black psychologists
(34 years and over) 384 622 1,006
(N = 20) —————- —————- ——————
Total 578 963 1,541

 

Dggrees of freedom: 1
x = .54

TABLE 3.20.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Graduate Students (20 to 33 Years of Age)
and Black Graduate Students (34 Years and Over) to the
OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black graduate students
(20 to 33 years of age) 602 966 1,568
(N = 33)
Black graduate students
(34 years and over) 226 338 564
(N = 11) —————- -———- -————-
Total 828 1,304 2,132

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .50

38

TABLE 3.21.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses
Between Black Respondents (20 to 33 Years of Age) and
Black Respondents (34 Years and Over) to the OMH

 

 

 

Questionnaire.
Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black respondents
(20 to 33 years of age) 796 1,307 2,103
m=4m
Black respondents
(34 years and over) 610 960 1,570
(N = 31) —————— -————— ————-—
Total 1,406 2,267 3,673

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .38

Hypothesis IV

 

Tables 3.22 through 3.26 show the results of the data that are
relevant to Hypothesis IV. This hypothesis was stated as follows:

There is a significant relationship between the attitudes

toward mental health of black psychologists and black graduate
students that have lived in urban environments as compared with
those who have lived in suburban environments.

Hypothesis IV was not supported. None of the tests showed
significant differences for any of the comparisons. Relative low chi
square values were obtained in all of the tests and these indicate that
being reared in either an urban or suburban environment is not a sig-

nificant variable in determining the attitudes of black psychologists

and graduate students toward community mental health.

39

Table 3.22.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to the
OMH Questionnaire Between A11 Respondents Who Lived in a
Suburban Environment and Those Who Lived in an Urban
Environment for the First 18 Years of Their Lives.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree

Suburban environment 116 209 325
(N = 7)

Urban environment 991 1,684 2,675

(N = 54) —————- __..._ __

Total 1,107 1,893 3,000

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .25

(Data were not available for 4 psychologists and 10 graduate students
for this variable.)

TABLE 3.23.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists and
Black Graduate Students Who Lived the First 18 Years of
Their Lives in a Suburban Environment.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree

Black suburban psychologists 50 105 155
(N=3)

Black suburban students 66 104 170

(N=4) —— —— —————-

Total 116 209 325

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 1.50

(Data were not available for 4 psychologists and 10 graduate students
for this variable.) '

40

TABLE 3.24.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists and
Black Graduate Students Who Lived the First 18 Years of
Their Lives in an Urban Environment.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree

Black urban psychologists 447 738 1,185
(N = 24)

Black urban graduate students 544 946 1,490

(N=w) ——— ——— ———

Total 991 1,684 2,675

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .25

(Data were not available for 4 psychologists and 10 graduate students
for this variable.)

TABLE 3.25.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to the
OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists Who Lived in
a Suburban Environment and Those Who Lived in an Urban
Environment for the First 18 Years of Their Lives.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree

Black suburban psychologists 50 105 155
(N=3)

Black urban psychologists 447 738 1,185

m=zm ——— ___ ———

Total 497 843 1,340

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 1.81

(Data were not available for 4 psychologists for this variable.)

41

TABLE 3.26.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to the
OMH Questionnaire Between Black Graduate Students Who
Lived in an Urban Environment for the First 18 Years of
Their Lives and Those Who Lived in a Suburban Environment.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black suburban
graduate students 66 104 170
(N=4)
Black urban
graduate students 544 946 1,490
(N = 30) ~-———— -————— -—————
Total 610 1,050 1,660

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .31

(Data were not available for 10 graduate students for this variable.)

Hypothesis V

 

Hypothesis V was stated as follows:

There is a significant relationship between the attitudes
toward mental health of black psychologists and black graduate
students who have experienced mental illness with friends or
relatives as compared with those who have not had such experi-
ence.

This hypothesis was supported by the findings of this study.

Tables 3.27 through 3.31 show the results of the tests of the hypothesis.
It should be noted that in the above mentioned tables that the
number of subjects is not consistent with the number of psychologists
and graduate students who completed the OMH Questionnaire. This incon-
sistency occurs as the result of given different weights to respondents

who indicated different degrees of experience with significant others

42

who were believed to be mentally ill. For statistical purposes, those
respondents who indicated that they had experienced mentally ill friends
ggg_re1atives were given a double weight. Likewise, those who had not
had experience with either mentally ill friends g§_relatives were also
given a double weight. All other degrees of experience with the mentally
ill, or the lack of such experience, were given single weights. In

other words, some of the subjects were considered as two subjects while
others were considered as one for the purpose of these statistical cal-
culations.

Table 3.27 presents the chi square test of significance between
all black respondents, across groups, to the OMH Questionnaire who have
had experience with mental illness among their relatives or friends, or
both, as compared with those who have not had such experiences.

TABLE 3.27.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Respondents Who Have

Experienced Significant Others With Mental Illness and
Those Who Have Not Had This Experience.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Significant others who have
experienced mental illness 1,240 2,337 3,577
(N = 54)
Significant others who have not
experienced mental illness 1,681 2,694 4,375
(N = 88) ————— ———-— ——-——
Total 2,921 5,031 7,952

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 12.73. (Significant at the .01 level of confidence.)

43

The chi square value of 12.73 shown in Table 3.27 was signifi-
cant at the .01 level of confidence. This data suggests that experience
with mental illness among significant others is an important variable
in determining the attitudes of black psychologists and graduate stu-
dents toward mental health. Sixty-six percent of the responses of
those who had experienced mental illness disagreed with items on the
OMH as compared with 62 percent of the responses of those who had not
experienced mental illness with people who were considered to be sig-
nificant in their lives. Disagreement with the items of the OMH
usually indicates that respondents are relatively 50phisticated in
their attitudes toward mental health.

A further examination of the differences between black psycholo-
gists who have had experience with significant others who were mentally
ill as compared with those who have not had this experience is shown
in Table 3.28.

A chi square value of 12.00 (significant at the .01 level of
confidence) was obtained. Experience with mentally ill family members
or friends is apparently a factor in determining the attitudes of
black psychologists toward mental health. Sixty-eight percent of the
responses of the psychologists who reported significant others who
were mentally ill were in disagreement with the items on the OMH.

This is in contrast to the 62 percent of the responses marked disagree
by those who had not had experience with mentally ill persons who

were considered significant others.

44

TABLE 3.28.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists Who
Have Experienced Significant Others With Mental Illness
and Those Who Have Not Had This experience.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists with
significant others who
experiended mental illness 755 1,580 2,334
(N = 30)
Black psychologists without
significant others who
experienced mental illness 549 905 1,454
(N = 30) —————— -———-— -—————
Total 1,304 2,485 3,788

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 12.00. (Significant at the .01 level of confidence.)

When the responses of black psychologists and black graduate
students who reported they had had experience with significant others
who were mentally 111 were compared, another significant difference
was obtained. These results are reported in Table 3.29.

Table 3.29 shows a chi square value of 16.07 which was signifi-
cant at the .01 level of confidence. Sixty-eight percent of the
responses of the psychologists, as compared with 61 percent of the
responses of graduate students, indicated disagreement with the items
(an the OMH. Again, disagreement indicates a relative sophistication

in attitudes toward mental health.

 

3‘15}! n. ... .

 

 

45

TABLE 3.29.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to

the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists and
Black Graduate Students Who Have Experienced Significant
Others With Mental Illness.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists with
significant others who
experienced mental illness 755 1,580 2,335
(N = 30)
Black graduate students
with significant others
who experienced mental
illness 485 757 1,242
(N = 24) —-*—- -u—-—— —————-
Total 1,240 2,337 3,577

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = 16.07. (Significant at the .01 level of confidence.)

Other tests between black graduate students who reported
experience with mental illness via their friends or relatives as com-
pared with those who had not reported this experience were not found
to be significant. Likewise, no significant differences were obtained
when comparisons were made between black psychologists and black gradu-
ate students who had not experienced mental illness among their
friends and relatives. These results are presented in Tables 3.30

and 3.31.

46

TABLE 3.30.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Graduate Students
Who Have Experienced Significant Others With Mental
Illness and Those Who Have Not Had This Experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black graduate students with
significant others who
experienced mental illness 485 757 1,242
(N =.24)
Black graduate students without
significant others who experi-
enced mental illness 1,132 1,789 2,921
(N = 58) ____._
Total 1,617 2,546 4,163

 

Dggrees of freedom: 1
x = .02

TABLE 3.31.--x2 Test of Significance of Differences in Responses to
the OMH Questionnaire Between Black Psychologists and
Black Graduate Students Who Have Not Experienced Signifi-
cant Others With Mental Illness.

 

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists without
significant others who
experienced mental illness 549 905 1,454
(N = 30)
Black graduate students with-
out significant others who
experienced mental illness 1,l32 1,789 2,921
(N = 58) __ __
Total ‘ 1,681 2,694 - 4,375

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
x2 = .42

47

Sgpplementary Analyses

The following analyses were not relevant to the hypotheses
considered in this study. They are included to provide additional
information of interest and to further describe the attitudes of blacks
toward the concept of community mental health.

One item of interest was to compare the responses to the OMH
of black psychologists who participated in this study with those of
white psychologists/psychiatrists. Responses of which psychologists/
psychiatrists to the OMH were obtained from Nunnally's (1961) research.
The results of this comparison are presented in Table 3.32.

As Nunnally (1961) had used a seven point scale in measuring
attitudes of the psychologists/psychiatrists, the responses to the
lower three points of his scale were collapsed for purposes of this
comparison and considered as disagree responses. Likewise, the upper
three points of the scale were collapsed into an agree response.
Responses to the fourth or middle part of Nunnally's scale (an omit
response) were not considered or included in the data reported in
Table 3.32. As a result of these alterations, the results shown in
Table 3.32 must be regarded as tentative and are included here for
descriptive purposes only.

Table 3.32 shows a significant chi square value of 16.20.
Given the constraints mentioned in the above paragraph, it appears
that black psychologists differ in their attitudes toward mental health
from the white psychologists/psychiatrists included in Nunnallyis

(1961) study. Seventy-two percent of the responses of the black

48

TABLE 3.32.—-x2 Test of Significance of Differences of Responses of
Black Psychologists and White Psychologists/Psychiatrists
to the OMH Questionnaire.

 

 

 

Frequencies
Group Total
Agree Disagree
Black psychologists 256 646 902
(N = 31)
White psychologists
or psychiatrists 947 1,721 2,668
(N = 100) -————— —————- —————-
Total 1,203 2,367 3,570

 

Degrees of freedom: 1
X2 = 16.20. (Significant at the .01 level of confidence.)

psychologists were in the disagree category while 65 percent of the
responses of the whites were in the disagree category.

As no significant differences were observed between the atti-
tudes of black psychologists and black graduate students in terms of
their attitudes toward mental health, it was of interest to learn of
the particular items of the OMH Questionnaire where consensus of atti-
tudes could be observed. Eighty-five percent agreement or disagreement
among and between these groups was arbitrarily chosen as indicating
consensus. Tables 3.33, 3.34, and 3.35 present the results of these

observations.

chewydwuw. .

 

 

 

 

 

49

TABLE 3.33--Items of the OMH Questionnaire for Which Consensus Was
Observed Among Black Psychologists.a

 

Factor and Item Percent Agree/Disagree

 

I. Look and Act Different

Item #12. You can tell a person who is 92 Disagree
mentally ill from his appearance.

Item #26. The insane laugh more than 100 Disagree
normal people.

Item #39. Most of the people in mental 87 Agree

hospitals speak in words that can be
understoood.

11. Sex Distinction

 

Item #31. It is easier for women to get 100 Disagree
over emtoional problems that it is for
men.

Item #22. Women have no more emotional 9O Agree

problems than men do.

Item #14. Women are more likely to 92 Disagree
develop mental disorders than men.

V. Non-Seriousness

 

Item #23. Emotional problems do little 93 Disagree
damage to the individual.

Item #7. The seriousness of the mental 87 Disagree
health problem in this country has
been exaggerated.

VII. Age Function

Item #3. Children sometimes have mental 9O Agree
breakdowns as severe as those of
adults.

Item #19. Older people have fewer 87 Disagree
emotional problems than younger
people.

 

a85 percent was considered a majority consensus.

 

pa 144.»... .4 l ,n. . ..|_ )—
..\ IL‘n USSND.‘

11.. -_.

L

50

TABLE 3.34.--Items of the OMH Questionnaire for Whicg Consensus Was
Observed Among Black Graduate Students.

 

Factor and Item Percent Agree/Disagree

 

I. Look and Act Different

Item #12. You can tell a person who is 92 Disagree
mentally ill from his appearance.

Item #26. The insane laugh more than 91 Disagree
normal people.

11. Sex Distinction

Item #31. It is easier for women to get 86 Disagree
over emotional problems than it is for
men.

V. Non-Seriousness

Item #23. Emotional problems do little 88 Disagree
damage to the individual.

VI. Hopelessness

Item #40. There is not much that can be 97 Disagree
done for a person who develops mental
disorder.

 

a85 percent was considered a majority consensus.

51

TABLE 3.35.--Items of the OMH Questionnaire for Which Consensus Was
Observed for Black Psychologists and Graduate Students.a

 

Psychologists Students

 

 

Factor and Item
% Agree/Disagree % Agree/Disagree

 

I. Look and Act Different

Item #12. You can tell a 92 Disagree 92 Disagree
person who is mentally ill
from his appearance.

Item #26. The insane laugh 100 Disagree 91 Disagree
more than normal people.

II. Sex Distinction

Item #31. It is easier for 100 Disagree 86 Disagree
women to get over emo-
tional problems than it
is for men.

V. Non-Seriousness

Item #23. Emotional prob- 93 Disagree 88 Disagree
lems do little damage to
the individual.

 

 

a85 percent was considered a majority consensus.

Table 3.33 shows that the psychologists surveyed in this study
reached consensus on nine items of the OMH Questionnaire. The consensus
reached by graduate students on items of the OMH is presented in Table
3.34. Eight-five percent or more of the students gave the same responses
to five items. The items on which both groups reached a common consensus
are shown in Table 3.35. 'Consensus was reached in four items. It is
interesting to observe that common consensus occurred only for items

where disagreement was expressed.

52

Summary
The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that

practicing black psychologists would have significantly different atti-
tudes toward community mental health than black graduate students

being trained in mental health programs. A sex difference between
males and femaleS'hitheir attitudes toward mental health was found

when the respondents were grouped together without regard to profes-
sional status. No differences, however, were found between male and
female psychologists, female psychologists and female graduate stu-
dents, female graduate students and male graduate students, or male
psychologists and male graduate students.

No significant differences between psychologists and graduate
students in their attitudes toward mental health were found in rela-
tion to their age or being reared in urban as compared with suburban
environments. A significant relationship was found between all
respondents to the OMH Questionnaire, across groups, who reported
having had experience with mentally ill relatives or friends, or both,
as compared with those who had not had such experiences. Significant
differences were also obtained between psychologists who had experi-
ence with mentally ill friends or relatives as compared with those who
had not had such experiences. The attitudes of black psychologists
toward mental health also differed significantly from graduate students
when the variable of experience with mentally ill friends and rela-
tives was considered.

A supplementary analysis, unrelated to the hypotheses of the

study, showed that black psychologists who participated in this

53

investigation differed significantly in their attitudes toward mental

 

health from white psychologists who responded to the OMH Questionnaire
in Nunnally's (1961) study. These results, however, must be regarded
as tentative due to alterations made in the rating scale used by
Nunnally's subjects.

Items of the OMH Questionnaire on which psychologists, graduate
students, and a composite of these groups reached consensus (85 per—
cent agreement) were presented. The psychologists were found to have

reached consensus on the largest number (nine) of items.

CHAPTER IV
SUMMARY, DISCUSSION, AND CONCLUSIONS

Summar

The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes toward
community mental health of black psychologists and black graduate
students who were enrolled in mental health training programs. Com-
parisons were made between the two groups to determine the degree of
similarity of attitudes.

The Opinions About Mental Health Questionnaire, developed by
Nunnally (1961) was administered to a group of black psychologists who
were considered leaders in the field of black psychology and to a
group of graduate students enrolled in training institutes sponsored
by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Five hypotheses were formulated and tested. Hypothesis I
stated that practicing black psychologists would have significantly
different attitudes toward the concept of community mental health than
black graduate students being trained in mental health programs. The
second hypothesis stated that a significant relationship would be
found between the sex of black psychologists and black graduate stu-
dents and their attitudes toward community mental health. A third
hypothesis was tested to determine if there was a significant relation-
ship between attitudes toward mental health and the age of black
psychologists and black graduate students. Hypothesis IV predicted a

54

55

significant relationship between the attitudes toward mental health of
black psychologists and black graduate students that have lived in
urban environments as compared with those who have lived primarily in
suburban areas. The final hypothesis stated that a significant rela-
tionship existed between the attitudes toward mental health of black
psychologists and black graduate students who have experienced mental
illness with friends or relatives as compared with those who have not

had such experiences.

”Ella—m—

The Opinions About Mental Health Questionnaire (OMH) was

\h

administered by the investigator to black graduate students (N = 44).
enrolled in counselor training programs at Michigan State University
and the University of Connecticut at Hartford. All were candidates
for the master of arts degree. The OMH was mailed to a selected
number (N = 50) of prominent black psychologists who were nominated by
two past presidents of the National Association of Black Psychologists.
Thirty-one responses were obtained from this group.

Chi square tests of significance were used to test the
hypotheses of this study. This was accomplished by using the formula
for comparing group percentages or frequencies (McNemar, 1962). In
addition to the primary analyses, several supplementary analyses were
conducted to further describe the attitudes of blacks toward the con-
cept of community mental health.

Hypothesis I was not supported. No significant differences
were found between the mental health attitudes of practicing black
psychologists and black graduate students enrolled in mental health

training programs. In addition, no significant differences were

56

found between these two groups in terms of their attitudes toward
mental health for any of the ten factors of the OMH.

Hypothesis II was supported. A significant sex difference
was found between females and males when the two groups of psycholo-
gists and students were combined. No differences, however, were found

between the attitudes of (1) female psychologists and female graduate

-H’

students, (2) female psychologists and male psychologists, (3) female

'ng-.

students and male students, or (4) male psychologists and male students.

{51:-

No support was found for Hypothesis III and IV. Age and

‘

being reared in an urban environment versus a suburban environment
apparently were not significant variables in determining differences
between black psychologists and graduate students in their attitudes
toward mental health.

Hypothesis V was supported. Significant differences were
found between the mental health attitudes for subjects across groups
who reported having had experiences with mentally ill friends and
relatives as compared with those who had not had such experience.
Significant differences were also found between the attitudes of
psychologists who had experiences with mentally ill significant
others as compared with psychologists who had not had this experience.
Similar results were found between the attitudes of psychologists and
graduate students when experience with mentally ill friends of rela-
tives was examined. No differences, however, were found between
graduate students for the variable of experience with mental illness.
Likewise, no significant differences were obtained when comparisons
were made between black psychologists and graduate students who had

not experienced mental illness among their friends of relatives.

57

Supplementary and nonhypothesized tests of the results of this
study showed significant differences between the mental health atti-
tudes of black psychologists and white psychologists/psychiatrists.
These tests, however, must be regarded as tentative due to statistical
constraints. In addition, other supplementary analyses described the

items on the OMH where the subjects of this study reached consensus.

11:1?

01*

Discussion

 

"flliin_

One explanation as to why no significant differences were found
between the mental health attitudes of practicing black psychologists
and black graduate students could be the lack of validity and reliability
of the OMH Questionnaire in reflecting the attitudes of Blacks toward
mental health. The OMH, however, was derived from over 3,000 state-
ments of opinion about mental health made by the public, experts, and
mass media. Statements were obtained that related to the causes,
symptoms, prognosis, treatment, incidence, and social significance of
mental health problems. Content validity of the items of the OMH may
be examined by reading the items found in Appendix A. The items of
the OMH appear to be broad in orientation and scope for opinions of
mental health.

When significant differences were not found between groups on
the total number of items of the OMH, each of the ten factors comprising
the OMH was examined to determine if differences existed between
psychologists and graduate students for any of the factors. Since
no differences were found, the attitudes of the respondents to the OMH
appeared to be consistent for the different aspects of mental health

attitudes measured by the OMH.

58

Based on the above data, it appears unlikely that a lack of
reliability and validity in the OMH was a direct cause of the nonsig-
nificant results of this study. A more plausible explanation of why
no significant differences were found between psychologists and gradu-
ate students is that these groups have had similar environmental
experiences that have produced similar attitudes toward mental
health. Both groups, for example, have had similar educational
experience. Being Black and members of a minority race, they have had
somewhat similar social learning experiences in a predominantly white
society. This assumption of similarity is further supported by the
results of the study which showed no significant differences between
the attitudes of the groups in terms of age or whether they had been
reared in an urban or suburban environment. Although a significant
sex difference was found when males and females from both groups were
combined, these differences were not apparent when females were com-
pared with males in terms of being psychologists or graduate students.

The assumption of similarity of attitudes between psychologists
and graduate students does not appear to be compromised by the signifi-
cant differences found between groups for subjects who had experienced
mental illness first-hand with friends and relatives when compared with
those who had not had such experience. Rather, these results indicate
that individuals who have had similar environmental experiences tend
to have similar attitudes toward these experiences. The impact of
experiencing mental illness in individuals who are significant in the
lives of the subjects certainly is a learning experience that is

likely to produce specific attitudes toward mental health.

V

, ~ ‘f.';\,‘£—T_'-:
o.

 

 

59

The influence of the environment as a possible important vari-
able in producing nonsignificant results between the mental health
attitudes of black psychologists and black graduate students can be
observed in the development of Black pride and unity. Since the advent
of slogans such as "Black is Beautiful!" and "Black Power" in the
1960s, Blacks have demonstrated a somewhat common point of view as a
race and as a minority culture. High value has been expressed by

Black leaders for developing and expressing an appreciation for black

‘W
. Mme»:

history, literature, and the contributions made by black individuals.
Concurrently, with the development of cohesiveness among Blacks, pro-
fessional mental health organizations and journals have been established
by Blacks to voice their attitudes and values. It would seem improbable
that black psychologists and graduate students would be unaffected by
cultural trends. Rather, it Would seem that these groups would be
involved in these environmental developments and this would tend to
shape their attitudes toward mental health in similar ways.

A sex difference was found when the mental health attitudes of
all males and females, regardless of professional status, were compared.
No differences were found, however, when comparisons were made between
Inale and female psychologists, or male and female graduate students.

It should be noted that the number of female psychologists was small
(N = 7) and this might influence the findings. These results suggest
that with a larger sample of the population, significant differences
Inight be found between black males and females in the categories men-
tioned above. In addition, it is well known that, at least in the

past, environmental conditions in a predominantly white society have

60

been more favorable for black females than for black males. They
have, for example, had more opportunities for work within the white
society and, thus, have had more chances to have their attitudes
influenced in a different fashion than black males.

Finally, the results of nonsignificant differences between
black psychologists and graduate students can be compared with the
significant differences found in a nonhypothesized test of the dif-
ferences between mental health attitudes of black psychologists and
those of white psychologists/psychiatrists. While these results must
be treated with caution due to statistical considerations, they did
show that the attitudes of black psychologists were significantly
different from those of whites. This is tentative evidence that the
mental health attitudes of Blacks studied during this investigation

are, indeed, valid and representative of this group.

Conclusions

 

The conclusions that can be drawn from the results of this
study are limited by the possible constraints mentioned earlier in
this report. It seems reasonable, however, to conclude that there
were no significant differences in the mental health attitudes, as
measured by the OMH Questionnaire, of the black psychologists and
black graduate students who participated in this investigation. The
procedures used in obtaining the responses of the subjects of the
study necessarily restrict the generalization of the results beyond
the original groups surveyed.

It also seems reasonable to conclude that the best possible

explanation for the lack of differences between groups is the similarity

Vh‘fi'flm-..

61

of environmental experiences of the two groups. The Black culture
appears to have been a primary factor in forming the attitudes of the
two groups of subjects.

A final conclusion appears to be warranted if the conclusion,
again, is confined to the subjects of this study. In Chapter I, it
was pointed out that an understanding of the attitudes of professional,
black psychologists and graduate students was necessary in order to
obtain maximum utilization of community mental health facilities by
members of the black community, to assess the effects on attitudes that
training programs are having on black students in mental health train-
ing programs, and to communicate appropriate attitudes to Blacks with
regard to the various aspects of community mental health. It seems
apparent that black graduate students are reflecting similar attitudes
to those of black psychologists. This may be due to the training
programs in which these particular students were enrolled, or due to
more indirect influences of black psychologists on the attitudes of
students via the mass media, scholarly journals, or professional
organizations. It is probable that a combination of these factors is

responsible for forming the attitudes of the black graduate students.

Recommendations

 

The results of this study suggest the following recommendations:

1. A replication of this study should be undertaken with
subjects who are obtained from diverse training programs and from the
population of black psychologists other than those who are leaders in

the field. Efforts should be made to include a sufficient number of

V
fin“..— .. —

62

female psychologists and graduate students to adequately test for a
sex difference in attitudes.

2. A comprehensive study of any differences in the mental
health attitudes of black psychologists and graduate students as com-
pared with those of white psychologists and students would be useful
in determining if different types of training programs should be pro-
vided for black students enrolled in mental health training programs.

3. Studies should be conducted to compare the attitudes of
the nonprofessional, black population toward mental health with the

attitudes of black psychologists and graduate students.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

63

‘
fin.) _ a"! It), I 15741?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Crocetti, G. M.; Spiro, H. R.; Lemkau, P. V.; and Siassi, 1. Multiple
models and mental illnesses. J. Consult. Clin. P§ychol.,
1972, 22 (1), 1-5.

deRopp, R. S. Drugs and the mind. New York: St. Martin's, 1957.

 

Dubos, R. J. Mirage of health. New York: Harper, 1959.

 

Garritt, H. Statistics in psychology_and education. New York: David
McKay, 1958.

Gurin, G.; Veroff, J.; and Feld. S. Americans view their mental health.

New York: Basic Books, 1960.

Halpert, A. P. Surveys of public opinions and attitudes about mental
illness. Public health report, 80. Washington, D.C.: Govern-
ment Printing Office, July 1965, 589-597.

Jahoda, M. Current concepts of positive mental health. New York:
Basic Books, 1958.

Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health Action for mental
health. New York: Basic Books, 19613

McNemar, Q. Psychological statistics. (3rd ed.) New York: Wiley,
1962.

Mental Health Study Act. Public Law, 182-84th Congress. Washington,
D.C.: Government Printing Office, Chapter 417.

Nunnally, J. C. The communication of mental health information: A
comparison of the opinions of experts and the public with mass
media presentations. Behav. Sci., 1957, 2, 222-230.

 

. Opinions of psychologists and psychiatrists about mental
health problems. J. Consult. Psychol., l958b, 22, 178—182.

Tests and measurement: Assessment andgprediction. New York:

McGraw-Hill, 1959.

. Popular conceptions of mental health. ,New York: Holt,
Rinehart & Winston, 1961.

64

65

Nunnally, J. C., and Bobren, H. M. Attitude change with false informa-
tion. Pub. Opinion_Quart., 1959a, 22, 260-266.

 

Variables governing the willingness to receive communication
on mental health. J. Personnel, 1959b, 22, 38-46.

 

Nunnally, J. C., and Husek, T. R. Phoney language examination: An
approach to measurement of response biases. Educ. and Psychol.
Meas., l958a, 18, 275-282.

. Semantic clarity: One standard for factor test. Educ. and
Psychol. Meas., l958d, 12, 761-767.

 

Nunnally, J. C., and Kittross, J. M. Public attitudes toward mental
health professions. Am. Psychol., l958c, 12, 589—594.

 

Osgood, C. E.; Succi, G. J.; and Tannenbaum, P. H. The measurement of
meaning. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1957.

Mfi‘mfin H

Phillips, 0. L. Identification of mental illness: Its consequences
for rejection. Comm. Ment. Health J., 1967, 2_(3), 262-266.

Robinson, R.; DeMarche, D. F.; and Wagle, M. K. Community resources
in mental health. New York: Basic Books, 1960.

 

Rusk, J. N. Future changes in mental health care. Hosp. and Comm.
Psychiat., 1972, 2§_(l), 23-25.

Sarbin, J. R., and Mancuso, J. C. Failure of a moral enterprise.
Attitudes of the public toward mental illness. J. Consult.
Clin. Psychol., 1972, 22, 20-25.

Smith, 0. "Opinions of mental health." Master's thesis, Michigan
State University, 1972.

Thomas, C. W. Different strokes for different folks. Psychol. Today,
1970, 4, 49-53, 80.

Van Weerden Dijkstra, J. R. The attitude of the population toward the
mentally ill. Psychiatria, Neurologja, Neurochirurgia
(Amsterdam), 1972, Z§_(2), 95-106.

Williams, R. L. The death of white research in black community.
J. Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guid., April 1974,
2, 2, 116-117. -

Yolles, S. F. Social perspectives and mental health. Internat. J.
Soc. Psychiat., 1967, 12_(3), 165—173.

 

Zubin, J., and Freyhan, F. A. Social psychiatry. New York: Grune
and Stratton, 1968.

APPENDICES

66

‘1“"" :fl_ uh. 'I "‘11“

APPENDIX A

THE OPINIONS ABOUT MENTAL

HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE

67

Department

 

Counseling Psychology

OPINIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
(Prepared by J. Nunnally. 1961)

On the following pages you will find a number of statements
about mental health problems. We want to know how you feel about
each statement. We would like you to make a decision for each
opinion as to whether you support it or not. Our primary interest
is in .what you think and not in whether the opinions are true or
false. For each opinion you will be provided with a rating scale
as follows:

-r'i'fi'ffl

\

Disagree Agree

 

 

Because of your scientific background you may find it difficult
to rate some of the opinions in the questionnaire. The language in
which the opinions are expressed is most likely not that which you
would want to use in discussing the problem. You may find it
difficult to. give a. judgement on statements of this level of simplicity.
However, these are the things that people actually say. and it is
about these opinions that the judgement of eXperts will have to be
made. With these considerations in mind, please try to make a
judgement about each of the opinions in the questionnaire.

Please make one check nark for each statemnt.

Thank you for participating in the study.

Disagree Agree

The best way to mental- health is by
avoiding morbid thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

Mental disorder is one of the most
damaging illnesses that a person can
have. .

 

 

Children somtimes have mental break-

1
l
"—7
___....__J
downs as severe as those of adults. I I
' CZ:

Nervous breakdowns seldom have a
physical origin.

1] L1 "1 L1

68

69

The mentally ill have not received

enough guidance from the important
people in their lives.

Women are as emotionally healthy as
13811. .

The seriousness of .the mental. health

problem in this country has been exagezated.

Helping. the mentally ill person with
his financial and social problems
often improves his condition.

Mental Patients usually make a good
adjustment to society when they are
released.

The good psychiatrist acts like a father
(to his patients. '

Early adulthood is more of a danger
period for nental illness than later

years.

You can tell a person who is mentally
. ill from his appearance .

People who becone nentally ill have
little will power.

Nomen are more likely to develop
mental disorders than men.

Most mental disturbances in adults
can be traced to emotional
experiences in childhood..

The mentally ill pay little attention
to their personal appearance.

People who keep themselves occupied with
pleasant thoughts seldom becone ,

mentally ill.

Few peeple who enter mental hospitals
ever leave.

Older people have fewer emotional problems
than younger people.

Disagree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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70

People cannot maintain good mental health
without the support of strong persons in
their environment.

Hill power alone will not cure mental
disorders.

Women have no more emotional problems
than men do.

EmotiOnal problems do little damage to
the individual.

Mental illness can usually be helped by a
vacation or change of scene.

Disappointments affect children as much
as they do adults.

The insane people laugh more than
normal people.

Psychiatrists try to show the mental
patient where his ideas are incorrect.

. mental disorder is not a hopeless
condition.

Mental health is one of the most
important national problems.

Mental disorder is usually brought on
by physical causes.

It is easier for women to get over
emotional problems than it is for men.

A change of climate seldom helps an
emotionalwdisorder.

The main job or the psychiatrist is to
recommend habbies and other ways for
the mental patient to occupy his mind.

Psychiatrists as to teach mental patients
to hold in their strong emotions. .

X-raysof the head will not tell whether
a person is likely to become insane.

Disagree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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71

Almost any disease that attacks the
nervous system is likely to bring on
insantiy.

If a person concentrates on happy
memories he will not be bothered by
unpleasant things in the present.

Mental health is largely a matter
of trying hard to control the
emotions._

Most of the people in mental
, hospitals speak in words that
can be understood. .

There is not much that can be done
for a person who develops a. mental
disorder.

Most clergyman will encourage a
person with a mental disorder
to see a psychiatrist.

‘ Feebleminded children are less
obedient than normal children.

Most people who ”go crazy” try to
kill themselves.

Few of the people who seek psychiatric -
help need the treatment.

Most people can recognize the type of person
who is likely to have a nervous breakdown.

If a child is jealousof a younger
brother it is best not to lethim
show it in any way.

Early training will not make the
child's brain grow faster.

Host suicides occur because of
rejection in love.

any of the people who go to mental
hospitals are able to retum to work
in society again.

Disagree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Agree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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72

Children usually do not forget about
frightening experiences in a short
time.

Disappointments do not affect
children as much as they do
adults.

Most of the insanity cases are found
in people over fifty years of age.

Good emotional habits cannot be
taught to children in school as
easily as spelling can.

The eyes of the insane are glassy.

People who go from doctor to doctor
with many complaints know that there
is nothing really wrong with them.

A person cannot rid himself of
unpleasant memories by trying
hard to forget them.

Disagree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX B

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FOR BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS AND

BLACK GRADUATE STUDENTS USED IN THIS STUDY

73

TABLE B.1.-~Demographic Data for Black Psychologists and Black Graduate
Students Used in This Study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black
Black Psychologists Graduate Students
N % N %
Ass.
20 - 33 11 35.48 33 75.00
34 - Above gg_ 64.52 11_ 25.00
Total 31 100.00 44 100.00
5.91
Male 24 77.42 24 54.55
Females _7_ 22.58 29_ 45.45
Total 31 100.00 44 100.00
Marital Status
Married 20 64.52 21 47.73
Single 3 9.68 16 36.36
Other _33 25.80 _j[ 15.91
Total 31 100.00 44 100.00
Major
Clinical Psych. 12 38.71 4 9.09
Counsel. Psych. 12 38.71 40 90.91
Other _1_ 22.58 _Jl 0.00
Total 31 100.00 44 100.00

74

TABLE B.l.--Continued.

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black
Black Psychologists Graduate Students
N % N %

CommunityiType
Suburban 3 9.68 4 9.09
Urban 24 77.42 30 68.18
No Response _4_ 12.90 10_ 22.73
Total 31 100.00 44 100.00

Mental Illness

Significant Other

With 30 50.00 24 27.27
Without 39_ 50.00 58_ 72.73
Total 60 100.00 82 100.00

 

APPENDIX C

FACTORS OF THE OMH

76

Factor

Factor

C

Factor

Factor

Factor

Factor

II

III

VI

Factors of the_0MH

 

Look and Act Different - The mentally ill are
recognizably different in manner and appearance
from normal persons. They have glassy eyes and
small brains, Laugh more than normal people. and
pay little attention to their personal appearance.

Sex Distinction - Women are more prone to mental
disorders than men are. Women worry more than men
and more often have "nervous breakdowns."

Guidance and Support - Mental health can be main-
tained by depending on strong persons in the
environment. The therapist eXplains to the patient
the origins of his troubles and tells the patient
where his ideas are incorrect. The mentally ill
are persons who lacked affection in childhood.

External Causes vs. Personality - The individual's
state of mental health is dependent on the pressures
in his immediate environment. Mental troubles are
caused by physical exhaustion, financial and social
problems. A cure can be effected by a vacation or
change or scenery. The Opposite point of view is
that the individual's state of well-being is
dependent on his personal history, especially his
childhood.

Non-Seriousness - Emotional difficulties are
relatively unimportant problems that cause little
damage to the individual. Good emotional habits
are easy to develop and maintain. .(This factor
differs from the hopelessness factor in that
hopelessness is concerned with the likelihood of
recovery and the value of treatment, regardless
of the extent to which the problems are damaging.
To illustrate. an individual may have a disorder.
such as an allergy. which would be hopeless in the
sense of being incurable. but not serious in the
sense of being debilitating.)

Hopelessness - There is little that can be done
to cure a mental disorder. Few of the inmates
of mental hospitals return to work in society.
Psychiatrists cannot tell whether a condition is
curable.

77

Factor

Factor

Factor

Factor

VII

VIII

78

Age Function - Persons become more susceptible to
emotional disorders as they grow older - an ap-
parent analogy with the increasing susceptibility
to some of the "physical" disorders. Children are
less affected by frightening experiences. Older
persons are more prone to insanity and recover more
slowly from "nervous breakdowns."

Organic Causes - Mental disorder'is brought on by
organic causes like poor diet and diseases of the
nervous system. It is associated with physical
symptoms like brain damage and can be cured by
"physical means."

Will Power - Will power is the basis of personal
adjustment. Once adjustment is lost, the
psychiatrist exercises his own will power to
bolster the patient's failing will. Persons who
remain mentally ill do not "try" to get better.
Most of the people who seek treatment do not need
it, and those who do are not very worthwhile
persons.

Avoidance of Morbid Thoughts - Preoccupation with
pleasant thoughts is the basis of mental health.
Mental disturbances can be avoided by keeping busy.
reading books on "peace of Mind.” and not discussing
troublesome topics. Psychiatrists must have a good
sense of humor. The psychiatrist recommends hobbies
and other ways for the patient to occupy himself.

(Nunnally. 1961. pp. 17-18)

merq

APPENDIX D

ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE TEN
FACTORS OF THE OMH

79

WW?“

Factors:

II

Items of the OMH Included in the

 

Ten Factors of the OMH

 

Look and.Act Different

Item.# 12
Item # 16

Item # 26

Item # 39
Item # 45

Item.# 54

You can tell a person who is mentally ill from
his appearance.

The mentally ill pay little attention to their
personal appearance.

The insane laugh more than normal people.

Most of the pe0ple in mental hospitals speak in
words that can be understood.

Most people can recognize the type of person who
is likely to have a nervous breakdown.

Theeyes of the insane are glassy.

Sex Distinction

Item.# 6
Item # 14

. Item # 22

III

Item # 31

Women are as emotionally healthy as men.

Women are more likely to develop mental disorders

_ than men.

Women have no more emotional problems than men do.

It is easier for women to get over emotional
problems than it is for men.

Guidance and Support

Item.# 5

Item # 8

Item.# 10

Item.#127

The mentally ill have not received enough guidance
from the important people in their lives.

Helping the mentally ill person with his financial
and social problems often improves his condition.

The good psychiatrist acts like a father to his
patients.

Psychiatrists try to show the mental patient where
his ideas are incorrect.

8O

 

III

81

Guidance and Support (Cont'd.)

Item # 33

Item # 3“

Item # 1+2

The main job of the psychiatrist is to recommend
hobbies and other ways for the mental patient to
occupy his mind.

Psychiatrists try to teach mental patients to hold
in their strong emotions.

Most clergyman will encourage a person with a mental
disorder to see a psychiatrist.

External Causes vs. Personality

Item # 15

Item # 20

Item # 24
Item # 32

Item # 38

Most mental disturbances in adults can be traced
to emotional eXperiences in childhood.

People cannot maintain good mental health with-
out the support of strong persons in their
environment.

Mental illness can usually be helped by a vacation
or change or scene.

A change of climate seldom helps an emotional
disorder.

Mental health is largely a matter of trying hard
to control the emotions.
Non-Seriousness
Item # 2 Mental disorder is one of the most damaging
illnesses that a person can have. _
Item # 7 The-seriousness of the mental health problem in
this country has been exaggerated.
Item # 9 Mental patients usually make a good adjustment
. to society when they are released.
Item # 23 Emotional problems do little damage to the
. individual.
Item # 29 Mental health is one of the most important
national problems.
Item # 144 Few of the people who seek psychiatric help
need the treatment.
'Item # ’49 Many of the people who go to mental hOSpitals

are able to return to work in society again.

 

82

V Non—Seriousness (Cont'd.')
Item {I 55 People who go from doctor to doctor with many

complaints know that there is nothing really
wrong with them.

VI H0pelessness

Item # 18 Few people who enter mental hospitals ever
leave.

Item # 28 Mental disorder is not a hopeless condition.

Item # no There is not much that can be done for a person
who deve10ps a mental disorder.

VIE Age Function

Item # 3 Children sometimes have mental breakdowns
as severe as those of adults.

 

Item # 11 Early adulthood is more of a danger period for
mental illness than later years.

Item # 19 Older peOple have fewer emotional problems than
younger people. '

Item # 25 Disappointments affect children as much as
they do adults.

Item # 46 If a child is jealous of a younger brother it is
best not to let him show it in any way.

Item # 47 Early training will not make the child's brain
grow faster.

Item # 50 Children usually do not forget about frightening
experiences in a short time.

Item # 51 Disappointments do not affect children as much
as they do adults.

Item # 52 Most of the insanity cases are found in people
over fifty years of age.

Item # 53 Good emotional habits cannot be taught to children
in school as easily as spelling can.

VIII ' Organic Causes
1 Item # lb Nervous breakdowns seldom have a physical origin.

Item # 30 Mental disorder is usually brought on by physical causes.

VIII

83

Organic Causes (Cont 'd. )

Item # 35

Item # 42

Item # 36

X-rays of the head will not tell whether a person
is likely to become insane.

Feebleminded children are less obedient than normal
children.

Almost any disease that attacks the nervous

. system is likely to bring on insantiy.

Will Power
Item # 13

Item # 21
Avoidance

Item# 1

Item # 17

Item # 37

Item # 43
Item # 48
Item # 56

People who become mentally ill have little will
power.

Will power alone will not cure mental disorders.

The best way to mental health is by avoiding
morbid thoughts.

People who keep themselves occupied with pleasant
thoughts seldom become mentally ill.

If a person concentrates on happy memories he will
not be bothered by unpleasant things in the present.

Most people who "gocrazy" try to kill themselves. '
Most suicides occur because of rejection in love.

A person cannot rid himself of unpleasant memories
by trying hard to forget them.

 

APPENDIX E

GENERAL INFORMATION FORM

84

5.

7.

General Information

 

 

 

 

Age . 2. Male . Female .
Professional field . Number of years in profession
Married , Single . Widowed .

 

 

Separated . Divorced .

In what size community did you live during most of the first 18

years of your life? (check one below)

 

 

a. ppon a farm
b. in the open countryside. but not on a farm.
c. town or city.

 

(1) with approximate population of
(please estimate)

(2) is this a suburb? yes no .

 

Have any of your good friends ever been mentally ill?
(circle appropriate category).

a. No.

b. Yes. a middle-aged man.
c. Yes. a middle-aged woman.
d. Yes. an elderly man.

e. Yes. an elderly woman.

f. Yes. a boy.

g. Yes. a girl.

h. Yes. several friends.

Has any member of your family ever been mentally ill?
(circle appropriate category).

a. No.

b. Yes. a grandparent.

0. Yes. a parent.

d. Yes. a husband or wife.
e. Yes. a son or daughter.
f. Yes. a brother or sister.
3. Yes, some other'relative.
h. Yes. several members.

THAT'S ALL
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

85

 

 

APPENDIX F

COVER LETTER TO PSYCHOLOGISTS

86

mST IANSING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

EAST LANSING HIGH SCHOOL
Freshman-«Sophomore Division Office
509 Burcham Drive '

East lensing, Michigan 148823
Telephone 332-2545

Halter Barwick. Division Principal

Dear Colleagues

As a PH.D. candidate in counseling psychology at Michigan State University,
I am in the process of collecting research data and ask your cooperation.
You are one of a group of 50 leading Black psychologists being asked to
complete these forms.

My concern is with the attitudes of Black psychologists toward the concept
of community mental health. I have taken the liberty to enclose a copy
of the attitudinal and history forms. I would appreciate your completing
and returning them to me by November 1. 1973. in the enclosed envelope.

I realize how busy you must be. so if you would take the time right now
to complete the form, it will be out of your way and much appreciated.

Dr. Theme Gunnings. Professor of Psychology at Nichigan State University,
is assisting with this project.

Needless to say. research by Blacks and for Blacks should be our concern
and cannot succeed without your participation.

Sincerely.

Halter Barwick
Divisional Principal

HB/mn

Enclosures

87

 

   

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