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Cited by 314Mental Health Treatment and AccessPsychology and Mental HealthChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Being treated differently: Stigma experiences with family, peers, and school staff among adolescents with mental health disorders

Moses, Tally·2010·Social Science & Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.022
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Abstract

Stigma directed at adolescents diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disorders by individuals in their interpersonal network likely undermines their wellbeing, yet little is known about their subjective stigma experiences. In particular, the prospect of diagnosed youth experiencing prejudice and discrimination by family members has not previously been examined. This study examines adolescents' perceptions of being treated 'differently' because of mental health problems by family members, peers, and school staff. Qualitative analysis of narratives from mixed method interviews with 56 adolescents in a mid-western US city demonstrated variation in the perceived extent and nature of stigma and in contextual factors perceived as promoting or protecting from stigmatization, depending on the interpersonal domain. The greatest number of participants experienced stigmatization in relationships with peers (62%); this often led to friendship losses and transitions. Participants reporting no peer stigmatization often reported socializing with others "in the same boat" or concealing problems--methods of avoiding potentially stigmatizing interactions. Close to half (46%) described experiencing stigmatization by family members, which often took the form of unwarranted assumptions, distrust, avoidance, pity, and gossip. About one third (35%) of participants reported stigma perpetrated by school staff, who expressed fear, dislike, avoidance, and under-estimation of their abilities. Fortunately, 22% reported "different" treatment by school staff, but this treatment was interpreted as positive and supportive. Results showed that perceived stigmatization in one domain was associated with perceived stigma in other domains. The results suggest that efforts to combat stigmatization of youth with mental health disorders must help family members, peers, and school staff overcome their inclinations to make negative assumptions and discriminate against these youth.

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  • Detrimental stigma outcomes in young people are mostly related to their need to preserve social identity and social capital.

    “Detrimental stigma outcomes in young people were mostly related to their need to preserve social identity and social capital.87,88”

    From The Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health (2022) · cites this paper as [87]

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Authors
Moses, T.
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
Moses, Tally
ORCID
Moses, Tally
Venue
Social Science & Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-04
Volume
70
Issue
7
Pages
985-993
ISSN
0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.022
OpenAlex
W1963733748
Cited by
314
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
FWCI
13.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
stigma, adolescents, mental illness, emotional and behavioral disorders, family stigma, peer stigma, school staff, discrimination, friendship loss, interpersonal relationships
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Psychology, Adolescent, Mental Disorders, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Faculty, Family, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Interviews as Topic, Male, Peer Group, Schools, Social Environment, Social Perception, Social Support, Stereotyping, United States, Qualitative Research

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