Relationships between stigma-identity constructs and psychological health outcomes among adults who stutter

•Stigma-identity constructs explain variability in distress among adults who stutter.•Concealment of stuttering was the strongest predictor of distress.•Extent of verbal disclosure did not predict distress or adverse life impact. In the current study, stuttering was conceptualized as a concealable s...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of fluency disorders 2021-12, Vol.70, p.105842-105842, Article 105842
Hauptverfasser: Gerlach, Hope, Chaudoir, Stephenie R., Zebrowski, Patricia M.
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:•Stigma-identity constructs explain variability in distress among adults who stutter.•Concealment of stuttering was the strongest predictor of distress.•Extent of verbal disclosure did not predict distress or adverse life impact. In the current study, stuttering was conceptualized as a concealable stigmatized identity (CSI). The purpose of this investigation was to determine if four specific stigma-identity constructs that contribute to variability in psychological distress among people in other CSI groups also contribute among adult who stutter (AWS). 505 AWS completed an online survey that included measures of four stigma-identity constructs in addition to general demographics and measures of self-rated stuttering severity, distress, and adverse impact of stuttering on quality of life. Hierarchical regression was performed to determine the extent that stigma-identity constructs explained variability in psychological health outcomes among AWS. Self-rated stuttering severity was investigated as a moderator in these relationships. The stigma-identity constructs accounted for a significant proportion of the variability in distress (∼25 %) and adverse impact of stuttering on quality of life (∼30 %) among AWS. Further, the constructs of salience, centrality, and concealment were positively predictive of distress and adverse impact of stuttering after controlling for demographics and neuroticism. Compared to the other predictor variables (self-rated stuttering severity, demographic characteristics, neuroticism, and the three other stigma-identity constructs), concealment was the strongest predictor of adverse impact of stuttering on quality of life. Finally, self-rated stuttering severity was a moderating variable. The results from this study suggest that there are useful applications in conceptualizing stuttering as a type of CSI. Speech-language pathologists should be aware of the relationships that stigma has with psychological health outcomes among AWS and should consider the implications for intervention.
ISSN:0094-730X
1873-801X
DOI:10.1016/j.jfludis.2021.105842