A model of internalized stigma in parents of individuals with disabilities

Abstract

Background: Stigma has negative impacts on both individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, including poor mental health and social isolation. In the present study, we aimed to test a model of stigma internalization among parents of individuals with disabilities, as this process in not yet completely understood.

Aim: Specifically, we explored effects of experienced stigma and neuroticism on affiliate stigma and examined whether perceived stigma and self-blame are mediators in a stigma internalization model.

Methods: We recruited 82 parents of individuals with disabilities in Serbia over the course of six months. Parents were asked about perceived stigma, experienced stigma, affiliate stigma, self-blame, and they completed an assessment of personality traits.

Results: Both experienced stigma and neuroticism were positively correlated with affiliate stigma. In addition, perceived stigma was a mediator between these variables: parents who experienced stigma more and had higher neuroticism scores reported higher degrees of perceived stigma, which in turn positively affected affiliate stigma. Self-blame was not a significant mediator in the tested model.

Conclusion: We conclude stigma internalization among parents of individuals with disabilities is a complex process, involving experienced stigma, neuroticism, and perceived stigma. Interventions should include multiple paths to adequately support parents to combat stigma.

Keywords:

• affiliate stigma
• experienced stigma
• neuroticism
• perceived stigma
• self-blame
• self-stigma
• disability
• parents

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank parents and organizations for their time and participation in the research study.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Source of funding

No external funding was received for the research reported in the paper.

Geolocation information

Eastern and Southeast Europe.