This study aimed to draw a profile of nursing graduate students' attitudes towards mental disorders in three different cultures: Brazil, Chile and Peru. The opinion scale for mental disorders was applied. The results showed statistically significant differences (5%) in terms of authoritarianism, mental hygiene ideology, serial restriction and minority vision, which were favorable to Brazilian students. As to the factor interpersonal etiology, the results were favorable to Peruvians, while the results for etiology of mental strain were favorable to Chileans. There was no statistical evidence to confirm any difference in terms of benevolence. These results reveal that Brazilian students present more positive attitudes towards mental disorders, as they showed to be less authoritarian, restrictive and discriminative than the Chilean and Peruvian students. Therefore, they are more likely to develop a more therapeutic behavior towards people with mental disorders.
attitude; psychiatric nursing; mental disorders
