Understanding the Effects of Digital Storytelling on OUD Stigma Reduction: Exploring Character and the Recovery Plot

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Digital Media Studies

Background:

• Stigma surrounding opioid use disorder (OUD) significantly hinders recovery.
• Digital storytelling offers a promising avenue for reducing public stigma associated with OUD.
• Understanding the mechanisms by which digital stories reduce stigma is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test a predictive model explaining how exposure to digital recovery stories reduces public stigma of OUD.
• To investigate the role of narrative persuasion, mediated intergroup contact, and character construction in stigma reduction.
• To examine how different recovery plot resolutions (e.g., abstinence, medication-assisted treatment) influence narrative effects.

Main Methods:

• An experiment with 232 participants was conducted, utilizing a digital story from the StoryPowered Initiative.
• Participants were exposed to different versions of a digital recovery narrative.
• Measures included assessments of narrative involvement, character fluidity, intergroup anxiety, intergroup ease, outgroup variability, negative stereotypes, and willingness for future interaction.

Main Results:

• Exposure to a digital recovery story significantly reduced negative stereotypes and increased willingness for future interactions with individuals with OUD.
• Key mediating factors included narrative involvement, character fluidity, intergroup anxiety, intergroup ease, and outgroup variability.
• Recovery plots incorporating both medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) and abstinence led to stronger perceptions of character fluidity, enhancing stigma reduction outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The study supports a theoretical model demonstrating the effectiveness of digital storytelling in reducing OUD-related stigma.
• Digital recovery narratives, particularly those highlighting medication-assisted treatment and abstinence, can foster greater understanding and reduce prejudice.
• Findings have significant implications for developing targeted digital interventions to combat OUD stigma.