Stigma and Health (2024)
Authors: Jeong-Eun Lee, Sang Qin, Jinhee Park, and Melissa Ivins-Lukse
Abstract: Family caregivers for youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDDs) frequently confront challenges extending beyond the management of psychological, physical, cognitive, and functional complexities associated with disabilities. They are also tasked with navigating societal attitudes and biases permeating their environment. This includes courtesy stigma, a form of public stigma directed at those closely associated with marginalized social groups, including people with disabilities. This stigma can lead to heightened stress perception and diminished life satisfaction. Certain factors, however, mitigate the negative effects of courtesy stigma. These include intrapersonal resources—like fostering a sense of self-compassion—and interpersonal resources—such as seeking support from social networks. This study draws upon data from 135 caregivers of transitional-age youth with IDDs to examine the effects of courtesy stigma on stress perceptions and life satisfaction. It also explores the mediating roles of self-compassion and social support. Results showed a significant association between courtesy stigma and increased perceived stress, which subsequently related to decreased life satisfaction. Further analysis found significant associations from courtesy stigma to self-compassion (mediator) to stress (second mediator) to life satisfaction (outcome). Self-compassion did not mediate the path between stress and life satisfaction. In contrast, social support mediated the path between courtesy stigma and life satisfaction but not the path between courtesy stigma and stress. These findings suggest the detrimental outcomes of courtesy stigma and the mechanisms of buffering factors. They underscore the importance of implementing interventions to reduce courtesy stigma while also fostering self-compassion and access to social support.