An Exploratory Study of the Stigma Associated With a Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome: The Mental Health Impact on the Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed With a Disability With a Social Nature

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine how adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (AS) perceived their diagnosis and whether they feel stigmatized. The study also examined how stigma is related to mental health diagnoses (major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder). A cross-sectional study using a self-administrated mail questionnaire and a Web-based questionnaire were used to collect data. The two samples selected for this study included a snowball sampling, starting with parents of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with AS who participated in a qualitative study conducted in 2002. A second sample consisted of a volunteer sample of parents who visited Web sites for parents and individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The total sample included 10 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with AS. Level of stigma was significantly and negatively correlated with severity of AS symptomatology. Of the sample, 20% met criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and 30% met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Impact of Labels and Behaviors on the Stigmatization of Adults with Asperger’s Disorder

“…The second study assessed stigmatization by asking individuals with AD five questions to assess if they felt as if they were treated differently as a result of having AD. This study was not able to report many strong conclusions due to a small sample size (Shtayermman 2009). However, the study did find a significant positive correlation between severity of AD symptoms and self-report of stigmatization (Shtayermman 2009).…”

“…This study was not able to report many strong conclusions due to a small sample size (Shtayermman 2009). However, the study did find a significant positive correlation between severity of AD symptoms and self-report of stigmatization (Shtayermman 2009). This suggests that there is a relationship between behaviors indicative of AD and stigmatization.…”

“…A review of published research resulted in few studies related to the stigmatization of adults with AD. Shtayermman (2007Shtayermman ( , 2009 published two studies related to the stigmatization of adults with AD. Both studies utilized self-report measures (Shtayermman 2007(Shtayermman , 2009).…”

“…Shtayermman (2007Shtayermman ( , 2009 published two studies related to the stigmatization of adults with AD. Both studies utilized self-report measures (Shtayermman 2007(Shtayermman , 2009). The first study (Shtayermman 2007) assessed victimization, a construct closely related to stigmatization (Kelly and McKenna 2004).…”

Advocating for advocacy

“…As if living a good life amongst people with little inkling about your unique perceptions and ways of thinking (who have little insight into your gifts) isn't sufficient to produce often overwhelming anxiety, 'coming out' as autistic is itself a matter of import (Davidson & Henderson, 2010). Understanding and responding to being diagnosed (in effect, formally 'outed') can have positive or negative affect on a sense of self and emotional health (Shtayermman, 2009;Huws & Jones, 2009). The very presence of an advocate can have labelling effects.…”