"I've Spent My Whole Life Striving to Be Normal": Internalized Stigma and Perceived Impact of Diagnosis in Autistic Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Receiving an autism diagnosis in adulthood often leads to improved self-understanding and deeper self-reflection, which can have major impacts on people's well-being and sense of identity. However, autism diagnosis also exposes individuals to societal stigma, which may become internalized over time. This study aimed to explore relationships between psychological and service-related impacts of diagnosis and internalized stigma using mixed methods.

Methods

One hundred forty-three autistic adults completed an online survey involving impact of diagnosis domains of Self-Understanding, Well-being, Clinician Support, and Service Access, internalized stigma, and open-ended questions on beliefs about autism diagnosis.

Results

On average, participants reported mild l

SUBMITTER: Huang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10726184 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature