Cumulative consequences of stigma

Possessing multiple concealable stigmatized identities is associated with worse quality of life

Bibliographic Data

ID8102052
AuthorsMora A Reinka (0000-0001-9903-2966, Department of Psychological Sciences University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA, corresponding author), Bradley Pan‐Weisz (Department of Psychology California State University, Long Beach Long Beach CA USA), Elizabeth K Lawner (0000-0003-0487-930X, Department of Psychological Sciences University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA), Diane M Quinn (0000-0003-4492-7580, Department of Psychological Sciences University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA)
Year2020
Volume50
Issue4
Pages253-261
Publication date2020-01-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Applied Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9029 • E-ISSN: 1559-1816
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jasp.12656
OpenAlexW3003208029
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited51

Large health disparities exist between stigmatized and nonstigmatized groups. In addition to experiencing and anticipating greater discrimination, members of stigmatized groups also tend to demonstrate greater ruminative tendencies in response, which may lead to these poor health outcomes. Even among stigmatized groups, differences in the visibility of stigma lead to different mechanisms through which stigma takes its toll. Previous work has primarily focused on the impact of belonging to a single marginalized group; however, people often belong to multiple marginalized groups, and this likely affects both their health outcomes and their anticipation of stigma. In the current study, we focused on individuals with concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs)—socially stigmatized identities that are not immediately apparent to others—and created a measure of concealable marginalization that captures multiple group memberships. We predicted that those possessing a greater number of CSIs would anticipate more stigma from others, and, in turn, ruminate more about the stigma, which would negatively impact the health. Surveying N = 288 adults with CSIs, we found that possessing a greater number of marginalized concealable identities predicted worse self‐reported physical quality of life. These relationships were partially mediated by greater anticipated stigma and brooding rumination in regard to their CSI. This work illuminates a more complete picture of how living with CSIs can take its toll on health

Anticipation (artificial intelligence · Cognition · Developmental psychology · Psychiatry · Rumination · Social group · Social identity theory · Stigma (botany · Employment and Welfare Studies · Health disparities and outcomes · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Clinical Psychology · Social Psychology