Table 2 Distribution of the 12 latent class analysis variables across the three audience segments, US state legislators, 2017 (N = 475)
|  | All | Budget-oriented skeptics with stigma | Action-oriented supporters | Passive supporters | χ2 p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | ||
Perceptions of behavioral health treatment effectiveness | |||||
 Strong agreement that mental health treatments can be effective | 54.1 | 16.9 | 73.8 | 98.9 | < .0001 |
 Strong agreement that substance use disorder treatments can be effective | 49.1 | 12.6 | 78.5 | 84.8 | < .0001 |
Mental illness stigma score quartile | |||||
 1st quartile (score range = 0, 3) | 30.5 | 12.0 | 47.1 | 46.6 | < .0001 |
 2nd quartile (score range = 4, 5) | 17.8 | 11.2 | 19.6 | 27.1 | |
 3rd quartile (score range = 6, 8) | 30.9 | 42.6 | 23.2 | 18.5 | |
 4th quartile (score range = 9, 14) | 20.7 | 34.2 | 10.1 | 7.8 | |
Factors that have the most influence on support for a behavioral health bill | |||||
 Extent to which the bill is going to impact the state budget | 47.7 | 61.4 | 29.2 | 40.5 | < .0001 |
 Extent to which the bill is based on scientific evidence | 60.5 | 46.1 | 74.1 | 72.7 | < .0001 |
Most important health issues for legislative action in the state | |||||
 Mental health | 37.1 | 29.3 | 45.6 | 43.0 | .0007 |
 Substance abuse | 45.0 | 41.1 | 58.3 | 40.2 | .004 |
History of introducing behavioral health bill | |||||
 Mental health bill | 34.8 | 13.4 | 90.7 | 23.2 | < .0001 |
 Substance abuse bill | 31.4 | 15.4 | 96.3 | 4.6 | < .0001 |