Stigma and Social Support

Our first depression-focused publication was a cross-sectional, cross-cultural study looking at predictors of willingness to provide social support among Spanish-dominant Hispanics and non-Hispanics (Siegel et al., 2012). This study was guided by Weiner’s attribution theory (Weiner, 1980). Since then, we have conducted over 30 studies, several focused on participants from China (Yao & Siegel, 2024), examining how attribution-guided messages can reduce stigma. We have explored how using messages to change perceptions of onset controllability offset controllability (e.g., effort), temporality, responsibility, and deservingness can increase the social support received by people with depression (see Muschetto & Siegel, 2025 for a review of our work). We recently implemented a poster campaign guided by attribution theory focused on graduate students at Claremont Graduate University (Marshburn & Siegel, 2025).

Relevant Publications:

*indicates the author was a student at the time the research was conducted.

Muschetto, T., & Siegel, J. T. (2025). Application of Weiner's attribution-emotion-action model to increase support to people with depression. In M. C. Yzer & J. T. Siegel (Eds), Handbook of Mental Health Communication (1st Edition). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Marshburn, A.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2025). Depression, mental health culture, and graduate students: A low-cost, poster-based intervention using attribution messages. Journal of American College Health. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2024.2446441

Yao, E.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2024). Weiner’s attribution-emotion-action model: Uncovering the mediating role of self-blame and the moderating effect of the helper’s responsibility for the help recipient’s behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167224123813

Liu, X.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2023). Increasing support for loved ones with depression using moral elevation: a cross-cultural exploration of different elevation inductions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 19(6), 979–994. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2023.2282770

Marshburn, A.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2023). Vested in support: applying vested interest theory to increase support for close others with depression. Journal of Health Psychology, 28(4), 328–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053221115626

Muschetto, T.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2023). Perceived stability of depressive symptomology and willingness to help relational partners: An attributional perspective. Current Psychology, 42, 14076–14091. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02708-9

Ruybal, A.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2021). Increasing social support for women with postpartum depression through attribution theory guided vignettes and video messages: The understudied role of effort. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104197

Muschetto, T.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2021). Bibliometric review of attribution theory: A document co-citation analysis. Motivation Science, 7(4), 439-450. 

Yao, E.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2021). Examining the role of interpersonal relationship on attribution, emotion, and depression support provision: Experimental evidence from the People’s Republic of China. Motivation Science, 7(1), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000180

Siegel, J. T., & Keeler, A.* (2020). Storm, stress, and silence: A focus group examination of factors that exacerbate mental health problems in graduate students who have prior experiences with depression. Journal of College Counseling, 23, 207-220

Muschetto, T.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2020). Use of attribution vignettes and public service announcements to influence perceived stability of depression: The impact on affect, outcome expectancy, and helping judgments. Stigma and Health, 5(1), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000174

Siegel, J. T., Flores-Mendal, E.*, Martinez, D.*, & Berger, D. E. (2019). Can mental health anti-stigma messages have untoward effects on some people with depression? An exploratory study. Journal of Health Communication, 821-828. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2019.1672838

Ruybal, A. L.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2019). Attribution theory and reducing stigma toward women with postpartum depression: Examining the role of perceptions of stability. Stigma and Health, 4, 320-329

Muschetto, T.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2019) Attribution theory and support for individuals with depression: The impact of controllability, stability, and interpersonal relationship. Stigma and Health, 4, 126-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sah0000131 

Ruybal, A. L.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2017). Increasing social support for women with postpartum depression: An application of attribution theory. Stigma and Health, 2, 137-156.

Mokkarala, S.*, O’Brien, E. K.*, & Siegel, J. T. (2016). The relationship between shame and perceived biological origins of mental illness among South Asian and White Americans. Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 21, 448-459. doi:10.1080/13548506.2015.1090615.

Siegel, J. T., Alvaro. E. A., Crano, W. D., Lienemann, B.*, Hohman, Z.*, & O’Brien, E. K.* (2012). Increasing social support for depressed individuals: A cross-cultural assessment of an affect-expectancy approach. Journal of Health Communication, 17, 713-732.