(PS7-D83) Self-relevant Research (Me-search) in Clinical Psychology: Prevalence and Correlates

Clinical psychologists have historically avoided discussion about their own experiences with mental illness (Victor et al., 2022). In this study, we investigate the prevalence and perceptions of self-relevant research and mental illness. Self-relevant research (SRR; “me-search”) is research that is motivated by lived experience. For example, a scholar who studies depression may strongly identify with their own lived experience with depression. In clinical psychology, application guides and professional resources recommend against disclosure of SRR, as it may be viewed as biased, which may result in applicants being denied admission into clinical psychology (Devendorf, 2020). However, this ostensible discrimination against SRR is inconsistent with psychology’s recent efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this poster presentation, data will be presented that show 50% of a representative sample (N = 1,778) of clinical psychologists and trainees have engaged with SRR and are more likely to come from minoritized (racial, sexual orientation, and mental illness) backgrounds. Additionally, when presented with experimentally manipulated vignettes, clinical psychologists and trainees were more likely to stigmatize SRR on mental illness topics (suicide, depression, schizophrenia) than SRR on physical illness (cancer). Results provide evidence that clinical psychologists hold relatively more stigmatizing attitudes about mental illness compared to physical illness. Findings will be discussed regarding the implications of negative evaluations of SRR and mental illness on the health of applied psychology.