Beyond the label: The Moderating Role of beliefs about depression on the impact of labeling and diagnosis on public perceptions of people with depressive symptoms

Purpose This study investigated how the use of the label "depression" and information about a medical diagnosis influance laypeople's perception of individuals with depressive symptoms. We examined whether these perceptions—specifically viewing the condition as legitimate depression and as a medical condition—are moderated by participants beliefs about depression – depression literacy and misconceptions about the disorder. Methods The study employed a 2x2 between-subjects experimental design with 1,351 participants. Participants read a vignette describing a person with depressive symptoms, which was manipulated with the label "depression" and information about a formal medical diagnosis. Beliefs about depression were measured using the DepSter scale. Results Formal medical diagnosis significantly increased the perception that the individual had depression. The label "depression" only increased this perception when it was accompanied by a diagnosis. Conversely, when a diagnosis was present, the "depression" label decreased the perception that the person was experiencing a legitimate medical condition. These effects were not significantly moderated by participants' depression literacy or misconceptions about depression, though there was a slight trend suggesting that more misconceptions about depression were linked to viewing the condition as less medical when a diagnosis was given. Conclusion Formal medical diagnosis is the most critical factor in how laypeople legitimize depressive symptoms as a disorder. The common label "depression," when used alone, does not carry the same weight and can even reduce the perceived medical seriousness of the condition when a diagnosis is confirmed.