FUNCTIONAL LIMITATION AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY: CONSIDERING PERCEIVED STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION WITHIN A STRESS AND COPING FRAMEWORK

Cross-cultural variation in experiences of acceptance, camouflaging and mental health difficulties in autism: A registered report

Recent findings suggest that stigma and camouflaging contribute to mental health difficulties for autistic individuals, however, this evidence is largely based on UK samples. While studies have shown cross-cultural differences in levels of autism-related stigma, it is unclear whether camouflaging and mental health difficulties vary across cultures. Hence, the current study had two aims: (1) to determine whether significant relationships between autism acceptance, camouflaging, and mental health difficulties replicate in a cross-cultural sample of autistic adults, and (2) to compare these variables across cultures. To fulfil these aims, 306 autistic adults from eight countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States) completed a series of online questionnaires. We found that external acceptance and personal acceptance were associated with lower levels of depression but not camouflaging or stress. Higher camouflaging was associated with elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Significant differences were found across countries in external acceptance, personal acceptance, depression, anxiety, and stress, even after controlling for relevant covariates. Levels of camouflaging also differed across countries however this effect became non-significant after controlling for the covariates. These findings have significant implications, identifying priority regions for anti-stigma interventions, and highlighting countries where greater support for mental health difficulties is needed.

Investigating the Link Between IADL and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Serial Mediation Model

OBJECTIVES

There is a dearth of research on the psychological processes that underlie the negative relation between impaired instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and depressive symptoms in older adults. Drawing on the stress process model and the resilience framework, we investigated whether purpose in life and resilience serially mediate the relationship between impaired IADL and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

We recruited 111 cognitively healthy community-dwelling older adults (ages 54-85; M = 66.5) who scored a minimum of 25 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination.

RESULTS

We found that purpose in life and resilience serially mediated the relationship between IADL and depressive symptomatology in older adults. This association held true when we controlled for covariates. Additional sensitivity analyses also supported these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

This study extends our understanding of how IADL limitations contribute to depressive symptoms. Using a community-dwelling, cognitively healthy sample, we demonstrate that functional limitations indirectly influence older adults' depressive symptoms through a decreased sense of purpose in life and decreased resilience.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Our findings have implications for intervention programs that aim to alleviate IADL limitations and mental health issues in an aging population and promote healthy aging by improving psychosocial resources (i.e., purpose in life and resilience).

Missing Pieces: Engaging Sociology of Disability in Medical Sociology

Medical sociologists and sociologists of disability study similar topics but, because of competing or conflicting theoretical paradigms, tend to arrive at different conclusions, engage with different audiences, and pursue different directions for social change. Despite diverging trajectories over the past 20 years, however, there remains clear potential overlap between both subfields in the study of disability and untapped opportunities for cross-fertilization. Our purpose here is to place these literatures in conversation with each other. Toward this end, we identify major themes in the last 20 years of medical sociology scholarship, gaps with regard to disability in those themes, and possibilities (including methodologies) we see at the intersection of medical sociology and the sociology of disability that could address these gaps.

The "Own" and the "Wise" Revisited: Physical Disability, Stigma, and Mental Health among Couples

Utilizing data from a cross-sectional community survey of 455 heterosexual couples in which at least one partner has a physical disability, we examine the associations between stigma and psychological distress for both partners. We also assess whether these associations are moderated by gender. Findings from an actor-partner interdependence model analysis reveal that personally experienced stigma and vicarious stigma experiences have additive effects on psychological distress, but only among women. We discuss how these findings extend a relational understanding of stigma and its effects and implications for research and practice.

Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: The role of stigma and appraisals

OBJECTIVES

This study examines perceived and anticipated stigma towards infected people, threat and impact appraisals of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as distressing personal experiences related to the virus in order to determine the extent to which they directly and indirectly predict hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Investigated experiences included exposure to COVID-19-related news, having being in close proximity to people with a COVID-19 diagnosis or with COVID-19-like symptoms, having being sick or having suffered COVID-19-like symptoms, having tested negative for COVID-19.

METHODS

Adults from northern Italy (n = 326; M age = 29.86) provided cross-sectional data through an online survey during the nationwide lockdown period. Structural equation modelling analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Perceived and anticipated stigma, exposure to COVID-19 news, perceived threat and impact on material resources access were negatively and indirectly related to both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being via perceived COVID-19 psychological impact which served as a mediator. Perceived stigma was also directly and negatively related to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, whereas having tested negative for COVID diagnosis was positively and directly associated with eudaimonic well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19-related stigma and appraisals can impair positive feelings about life as well as the pursuit of self-realization and the search for meaning in life. The findings highlight the importance of developing psychological preventive and rehabilitative interventions to help people cope with these risk factors.

"Going the Extra Mile": Disclosure, Accommodation, and Stigma Management among Working Women with Disabilities

Although research has quantitatively evaluated the impacts of stigma on working women with disabilities (WWD), nuanced, qualitative accounts voiced by these women are rare. To address this literature gap, we conducted seven focus groups with forty-two WWD. We asked: "What are women's experiences of disability disclosure and accommodation in the workplace?" Findings reveal that WWD face intentional and unintentional structural discrimination and must weigh the pros and cons of disclosure and navigate devaluation threats in pursuing workplace accommodations. "Going the extra mile" emerged as a stigma management technique that was prevalent among women of higher social capital.

Functional Decline and Emotional Elder Abuse: A Population-Based Study of Older Korean Adults

OBJECTIVES

Elder abuse is an increasingly prevalent issue in South Korea. The current study examines the association between functional impairment and emotional abuse victimization in Korean adults 65 and older. We also examines the mediating roles of diverse aspects of family resources (i.e., older adult's self-esteem, family cohesion, family assistance, contact with friends/neighbors, and participation in social activities) in the aforementioned association.

METHODS

We analyzed 9,691 community-dwelling older Koreans from a population-based survey of the 2009 Survey of Elderly Care and Welfare Need. We conducted a path analysis to analyze the mediational hypothesis.

RESULTS

About 11% of the study sample reported experiencing emotional abuse by a family member in the past year (n = 1,082). The results of the mediational analysis showed that greater ADL/IADL limitations were associated with a) reduced self-esteem and b) receiving more assistance from family, which were ultimately associated with increased risk of emotional abuse victimization.

DISCUSSION

Elder abuse is a family crisis that may occur as a result of maladaptation to the heightened long-term care needs of older family members. Practitioners should take into account older adults' vulnerability in terms of the loss of adaptive resources in the face of functional decline. This study further supports the importance of relieving the burden of family caregivers to avoid the incidence of emotional elder abuse.