A systematic review on autistic people’s experiences of stigma and coping strategies

Abstract

Autism can be understood as a concealable stigmatised identity. This is the first systematic review to synthesise the literature on autistic people’s experiences of stigma and coping strategies. 2877 records were screened and 26 studies included in this review. The reviewed literature demonstrates that autistic individuals are acutely aware of being stereotyped, judged, and discriminated by others. Autistic people also show signs of internalising stigma, rendering them more vulnerable to low self-worth and poorer mental health. To manage the impact of stigma, the included studies suggest that autistic individuals may use these strategies: concealment and camouflaging, selective disclosure and self-advocacy, as well as positive reframing and reconstructing identity. However, the evidence is limited and mixed in terms of how helpful and effective these strategies are. Future studies should include autistic populations with a wider range of intellectual abilities and explore interventions that seek to support autistic people in managing stigma. The power of language in perpetuating and challenging stigma also has important implications for research and practice, underscoring the need for researchers and practitioners to reflect carefully on the messages they are communicating about autism.

The impact of psychiatric disorders on caregivers: An integrative predictive model of burden, stigma, and well‐being

“…Our results also show that having a child with a psychiatric disorder was negatively associated with stigma. This finding is particularly interesting given the relatively small number of studies exploring parents' stigma (Han et al, 2021; Hinshaw, 2005; Zhang et al, 2018), with most studies focusing on parents' well‐being, burden, and quality of life (Adelman et al, 2014; Jeyagurunathan et al, 2017; Macedo et al, 2015; Oruche et al, 2012; Sheng et al, 2018). One potential interpretation is that, as in the case of well‐being (Hammersmith & Lin, 2016), stigma might be experienced differently by caregivers of adult versus pediatric patients.…”

Perceived stress and emotion regulation mediate associations between camouflaging and internalizing symptomatology among autistic adults

“…Camouflaging or concealing one's neurominority identity is one way in which autistic people may cope with stigma (Han et al, 2022). Some autistic people report that in weighing whether to conceal or disclose their autistic identity, they face a double bind: either decision brings with it possible experiences of negative stereotypes, stigma, social exclusion, and victimization (Botha et al, 2022).…”

Stigma: An Investigative Analysis of the Irish Public’s Knowledge and Perception of Autism

“…However, despite this progress in awareness and education, stigma toward autism still exists. Whilst these surveys demonstrate that the public possesses a basic knowledge of autism, and professes positive attitudes toward people with autism, results also reflect persistent misconceptions about autistic people, and an ensuing desire to distance themselves from autistic individuals [15].…”