Podcasts, Mental Health, and Stigma: Exploring Motivations, Behaviors, and Attitudes Among Listeners

Author(s)
Carrotte, Elise R
Blanchard, Michelle
Groot, Christopher
Hopgood, Fincina
Phillips, Lisa
Publication Date
2023-04-02
Abstract
<p>Podcasts are increasingly utilized in mental health contexts, such as communicating advice around improving wellbeing, guided meditations, psychoeducation, and translating research findings. This study aimed to explore demographics, motivations, behaviors, and attitudes of podcast listeners regarding podcasts dealing with content and themes related to mental health. Adult Australian podcast listeners (<i>N</i> = 629) completed a cross-sectional online survey including the Acquisition Questionnaire (AQ-9), the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) and the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI-9). Approximately one third had listened to a mental health themed podcast in the last 12 months. Logistic regression models showed people who listened to a mental health-themed podcast held fewer stigmatizing attitudes toward people experiencing mental health issues on the AQ-9 (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9–1.0, <i>p</i> < .001), and had higher levels of mental health knowledge on the MAKS (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.2, <i>p</i> < .01). However, there was no significant relationship with internalized stigma on the ISMI-9 (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9–2.3, <i>p</i> = .2). Future research is needed to determine if such podcasts indeed impact listeners' attitudes and behaviors, and, if they do, how podcasts can be used for effective communication around mental health content.</p>
Citation
Communication Studies, 74(3), p. 200-216
ISSN
1745-1035
1051-0974
Link
Publisher
Routledge
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Title
Podcasts, Mental Health, and Stigma: Exploring Motivations, Behaviors, and Attitudes Among Listeners
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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