On Associative Stigma: Implicit and Explicit Evaluations of a Mother of a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Individuals with psychiatric problems are subjected to highly damaging stigma. Some research suggests that this stigma may extend to associates (e.g., family, friends), who themselves report being devalued, avoided, and rejected. The research literature on associative stigma is largely qualitative, and extant quantitative research has utilized only explicit measures which are notably weakened by self-presentational motives. In the current study, 95 undergraduates were randomized to hear one of two audio recorded vignettes pertaining to a fictional mother of a child with either autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or severe asthma. Participants then completed an Implicit Association Test capturing implicit evaluations of the fictional mother and two separate measures of explicit stigma. No group differences for either explicit measure emerged. However, the predicted group difference in implicit stigma emerged, such that the mother of the child with ASD was evaluated less positively than the mother of the child with severe asthma. Implicit-explicit correlations were not statistically significant but in the small to medium range according to effect size conventions. This study offers evidence of implicit associative stigma in the psychiatric domain. It also points to a variety of interesting avenues for further illumination of this potentially important phenomenon.

Appendix

Mother of a Child with Severe Asthma

This is Maureen. Maureen’s 10-year-old son, Johnny, has severe asthma. It is very difficult for him to get a good night’s sleep because he often has lengthy bouts of coughing at night. Sometimes, it seems like Johnny cannot engage in challenging situations, like strenuous sports activities, especially during the spring and fall. Sometimes Johnny wishes he could “be just like other kids” who don’t have asthma. Johnny has a hard time playing soccer, an activity he once enjoyed but had to mostly give up because of his breathing problems. When Johnny is in the middle of an asthma attack, he coughs, wheezes, becomes extremely short of breath, and has difficulty talking. Maureen is Johnny’s mother.

Mother of a Child with Autism

This is Maureen. Maureen’s 10-year-old son, Johnny, has autism. It is difficult for him to make eye contact with others and for him to talk directly to other people. When Johnny talks, he sometimes repeats what others say to him instead of answering the question. Sometimes, it seems like he cannot hear what is said to him, even though his hearing is normal for a child his age. Sometimes Johnny waves his hands around in a flapping motion, spins around, rocks back and forth, or bounces up and down in his chair. Johnny has a hard time changing from one activity to another because change upsets him. When Johnny is upset, he bites his hand and shakes his head back and forth as if he is communicating “no.” Maureen is Johnny’s mother.