Search results

(1 - 5 of 5)
Factor Analysis of a Stigma Measure for Adults with Autism
Title
Factor Analysis of a Stigma Measure for Adults with Autism
Creator
Beedle, Robert Brian
Date
2019
Description
This study evaluates a measurement tool for public stigma of adults with autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability...
Show moreThis study evaluates a measurement tool for public stigma of adults with autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability affecting individuals’ sensory experiences, behaviors, and social interactions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Current literature has examined public stigma of ASD through qualitative methods and select attitude and social distance scales, consistently reporting lower levels of negative attitudes when disclosure of ASD diagnosis is provided (Gray, 2002; Hennegan, 2010; Obeid et al, 2015). Other research suggests adults with ASD frequently experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives across settings (MacLeod, Lewis, & Roberson, 2013; Nicolaidis et al, 2015; Thibault, 2014). Previous research has not examined whether known processes of stigma (i.e., Attribution Theory, Danger Appraisal models) are applicable to understanding the stigma reported by this population. In the current study a commonly used measure of the stigma of mental illness (Attribution Questionnaire 27) was administered to determine its psychometric properties when applied to adults with ASD. Examination of a previous measurement model for this questionnaire on a sample of participants (N = 160) indicated lack of model fit. A larger sample (N = 306) was collected to determine the data-driven factor structure of this measure. A series of exploratory factor analyses indicates a three-factor, 24-item solution that displays strong psychometric properties, as well as convergent validity with other measures of attitudes towards disabilities and ASD. Results of this study suggest additional need to research the topic of stigma towards adults with ASD.
Show less
EXAMINING THE ROLES OF PUBLIC STIGMA AND ACCULTURATION ON CARE-SEEKING IN PAKISTANIS
Title
EXAMINING THE ROLES OF PUBLIC STIGMA AND ACCULTURATION ON CARE-SEEKING IN PAKISTANIS
Creator
Laique, Aamir
Date
2021
Description
Pakistani Americans face bi-directional cultural influences related to their heritage culture and the mainstream culture of the host. The...
Show morePakistani Americans face bi-directional cultural influences related to their heritage culture and the mainstream culture of the host. The present study examined the impact of culture on the relationship between public stigma and care-seeking attitudes. A sample of 158 Pakistani Americans was collected using MTurk. Hierarchical regression was conducted to examine the moderating effect of heritage acculturation and mainstream acculturation on the relationship between public stigma and care-seeking. Multiple regression analysis predicting care-seeking from public stigma, heritage acculturation, and mainstream acculturation did not yield a statistically significant model. Hierarchical regression analyses examining the moderating effect of heritage acculturation and mainstream acculturation were non-significant. Acculturation had no notable impact on stigma and care-seeking. This study was unable to demonstrate significant results. Future considerations should include inter-generational differences, other forms of stigma that may play a crucial role, and inclusion of different measures to determine if there are other scales better suited for the target population.
Show less
Self-Stigma & Vicarious Stigma Experienced by Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges
Title
Self-Stigma & Vicarious Stigma Experienced by Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges
Creator
Serchuk, Marisa Dyan
Date
2019
Description
Research has been limited regarding the stigma experienced by parents of children with mental health challenges. It is commonly understood...
Show moreResearch has been limited regarding the stigma experienced by parents of children with mental health challenges. It is commonly understood that stigma effects people with lived-experience (e.g., a child with mental health challenges), however, stigma has been noted to have a wide scope, which extends to family members as well. Parents of children with mental health challenges have been found to endorse aspects of self-stigma, specifically regarding public stereotypes of blame and feelings of incompetence. Vicarious stigma is a fairly new area of research, which describes the sad and/or angry response a parent may experience when witnessing their child being stigmatized. The purpose of this study is to examine emotional and behavioral outcomes related to specific types of stigma experienced by parents of children with mental health challenges. Archival data from a larger study of adult participants (N=50), who identified as having a child (age 3-10 years old) with mental health challenges, completed measures examining self-stigma, vicarious stigma, stress, depression, quality of life, disclosure, secrecy coping, and help-seeking. A novel measurement for vicarious stigma was introduced and examined in this study. Results found higher levels of self-stigma and dimensions of vicarious stigma were associated with higher levels of depression as well as diminished quality of life. Higher levels of self-stigma were also associated with lower perceived benefits of disclosing and greater levels of secrecy coping. These findings highlight the importance of further examining the role of stigma for parents of children with mental health challenges.
Show less
Mental Health Stigma and Care-Seeking in First Generation Indian Immigrants
Title
Mental Health Stigma and Care-Seeking in First Generation Indian Immigrants
Creator
Shah, Binoy
Date
2019
Description
Objective: Immigrants from India face unique obstacles, including migration related factors and cultural pressures, that may contribute to...
Show moreObjective: Immigrants from India face unique obstacles, including migration related factors and cultural pressures, that may contribute to underutilization of mental health treatment services. The present thesis examined paths between mental health stigma and care-seeking in a sample of first-generation Indian immigrants, with a specific emphasis on the influences of acculturation and parental autonomy support. Method: A sample of 201 first-generation immigrants from India was ascertained using MTurk. Path analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between public stigma of mental illness, disclosure, mental health care-seeking, parental autonomy support, and bi-directional acculturation. Results: Final model was supported by good fit indicators. Greater public stigma was associated with reduced care-seeking, but greater disclosure was associated with increased care-seeking. Interestingly, parental autonomy support, mainstream acculturation, and heritage acculturation facilitated disclosure but had no discernible impact on public stigma. Conclusions: In contrast to traditional anti-stigma strategies that focus on reducing public stigma, present results suggest that it may be more beneficial to facilitate care-seeking by targeting disclosure of status. In turn, disclosure may be promoted by facilitating autonomy supportive social networks and bi-directional acculturation.
Show less
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE HELP-SEEKING AMONG ASIAN INTERNATIONAL AND ASIAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS
Title
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE HELP-SEEKING AMONG ASIAN INTERNATIONAL AND ASIAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS
Creator
Tsen, Jonathan Yee-jon
Date
2020
Description
Asian populations are rapidly rising, representing the fastest growing racial group of immigrants in the U.S. with many seeking higher...
Show moreAsian populations are rapidly rising, representing the fastest growing racial group of immigrants in the U.S. with many seeking higher education. While many face risk for poor mental health outcomes and high suicidal ideation, Asian college students report lower rates seeking mental health services than White Americans. The purpose of this study was to test a culturally sensitive help-seeking model for Asian international and Asian American college students, and to capture relevant psychological and cultural factors that influence help-seeking. This study used an observational design to build on the current research and evaluated the effects of acculturation, enculturation, public stigma of help-seeking, self-stigma of help-seeking, and attitudes on willingness to seek psychological services. Four hundred and fifty-eight students (Age M = 23.93, SD = 4.36) represented by 265 Asian International Students and 193 Asian American Students. Using a path analysis, results demonstrated a poorly fitted model, suggesting that acculturation, enculturation, public stigma, self-stigma, attitudes, and willingness do not relate significantly to each other when viewed altogether in a model. This remained true even when modifications to the model were made, and when observing the model within only Asian American student sample or Asian international student sample. However, significant direct effects were observed between enculturation and public stigma in the total sample, as well as separately in Asian American or Asian international samples. These findings highlight the importance of exploring with different methodological approaches to gain insight on other important psychological and cultural factors that impact help-seeking among Asian international and Asian American college students.
Show less