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Public opinion on imposing restrictions to people with an alcohol- or drug addiction: a cross-sectional survey

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Alcohol- and drug addiction tends to evoke disapproval and rejection among people. This study provides insight into the origin of people’s negative attitudes towards these people. Corrigan’s attribution model is used to examine intentions of the Dutch public to impose restrictions to people who are addicted to alcohol or illicit drugs.

Methods

Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey among a representative panel of the Dutch population (N = 2,793). Path analyses were conducted to test the influence of attribution beliefs, emotional responses and familiarity with addictions on people’s intentions to impose restrictions to these people.

Results

More than half of the respondents agreed with imposing restrictions to someone with an addiction such as excluding from taking public office or forbid to care for children. Corrigan’s attribution model was partially applicable to explain people’s intentions to impose restrictions, since only a rather small percentage of the variance in people’s intentions was explained by the model. The perception of personal responsibility for an addiction and high expectancy of aggressiveness have a positive influence on intentions to impose restrictions. Feelings of anger and fear were also predictors of intentions to impose restrictions.

Conclusions

The Dutch public showed high intentions to restrict people with an alcohol- or drug addiction which has an extensive impact on their life opportunities. Perceived aggressiveness, feeling of anger and fear, and perceived responsibility were associated with higher intentions to impose restrictions.

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Acknowledgments

Data were obtained from the LISS panel administered by CentERdata. We are very grateful to the MESS project for accepting the proposal and providing the data.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author, states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Leonieke C. van Boekel, Evelien P. M. Brouwers, Jaap van Weeghel & Henk F. L. Garretsen

  2. Phrenos Centre of Expertise, PO Box 1203, 3500 BE, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Jaap van Weeghel

  3. Parnassia Bavo Group, Dijk en Duin Mental Health Center, PO Box 305, 1900 AH, Castricum, The Netherlands

    Jaap van Weeghel

Authors
  1. Leonieke C. van Boekel
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  2. Evelien P. M. Brouwers
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  3. Jaap van Weeghel
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  4. Henk F. L. Garretsen
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Correspondence to Leonieke C. van Boekel.

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van Boekel, L.C., Brouwers, E.P.M., van Weeghel, J. et al. Public opinion on imposing restrictions to people with an alcohol- or drug addiction: a cross-sectional survey. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 2007–2016 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0704-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0704-0

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