An Exploratory Study of the Stigma Associated With a Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome: The Mental Health Impact on the Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed With a Disability With a Social Nature

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine how adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (AS) perceived their diagnosis and whether they feel stigmatized. The study also examined how stigma is related to mental health diagnoses (major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder). A cross-sectional study using a self-administrated mail questionnaire and a Web-based questionnaire were used to collect data. The two samples selected for this study included a snowball sampling, starting with parents of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with AS who participated in a qualitative study conducted in 2002. A second sample consisted of a volunteer sample of parents who visited Web sites for parents and individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The total sample included 10 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with AS. Level of stigma was significantly and negatively correlated with severity of AS symptomatology. Of the sample, 20% met criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and 30% met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder.

KEYWORDS:

• Stigma
• Asperger's syndrome
• autism
• mental health
• social work

Notes

*p ≤.01

**p ≤.001