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Stigma, Social Comparison and Self‐Esteem in Adults with an Intellectual Disability
Author(s) -
Paterson Lucy,
McKenzie Karen,
Lindsay Bill
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2011.00651.x
Subject(s) - psychology , self esteem , perception , stigma (botany) , intellectual disability , social comparison theory , developmental psychology , social psychology , self concept , social perception , social stigma , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , family medicine , neuroscience , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Background The paper examines the perception of stigma in 43 adults with an intellectual disability, the relationship this has with their psychological well‐being and whether the process of social comparison has a moderating effect on this relationship. Materials and Methods A questionnaire‐based, within‐participant design was used. Participants completed three self‐report measures of perception of stigma, self‐esteem and social comparison. Results Perception of stigma was found to be significantly related to negative social comparisons, which in turn was significantly related to low self‐esteem. No difference was found between social comparisons made with other service users and those made with people in the community. Social comparison was not found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between stigma and self‐esteem. Conclusion This study provides support for the influence of the perception of stigma and social comparison on the self‐concept of individuals with an intellectual disability.