Tackling Stigma Through Trust: How Lack of Perceived Integrity Harms Trust of Individuals With Bipolar Disorder

Authors:

Abstract: Bipolar disorder (BD) often leads to social and professional challenges, including unemployment, due to negative perceptions of individuals with the condition. The causes of these negative evaluations are not understood; stigma is elusive in definition and measurement and the existing trust research has ignored the relationship between BD and trust. Across four experiments using diverse samples, including an established longitudinal cohort study of BD, we identify trust as a core element that governs societal perceptions of individuals with BD. Trust, in turn, is closely tied to perceptions of individual predictability and integrity; active clinical features of BD drive high or low energy states and unpredictable interactions that damage the perceived integrity and thereby trust of the individual with BD. Together, these results advance our understanding of trust and stigma by highlighting that adopting a trust paradigm enables us to better understand negative attitudes and behaviors towards individuals with BD.

Track: DEI

Keywords: Trust; Bipolar Disorder; Stigma; Disclosure; Neurodiversity