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The Psychological and Physical Health Effects of Stigma: The Role of Self‐threats
Author(s) -
Eccleston Collette P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
social and personality psychology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.699
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 1751-9004
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00082.x
Subject(s) - psychology , stigma (botany) , prejudice (legal term) , affect (linguistics) , social psychology , coping (psychology) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , communication
Being a member of a group that is stigmatized (i.e., low status, devalued, negatively stereotyped, and victimized by prejudice and discrimination) can affect health. In this paper, I consider threats to the social self as a mediator in the relationship between stigmatizing experiences and health. I discuss experiences associated with stigmatization that can pose a potential threat to the sense of self and how each of these aspects of stigma relates to health. Our current knowledge is heavily centered on how discrimination experiences relate to health. More research is needed on how other aspects of stigma affect health. In addition, research addressing coping strategies, and especially how they influence health behaviors, will be useful in gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms through which stigma affects health.