Stigma as a barrier to addressing childhood trauma in conversation with trauma survivors: A study in the general population.

ABSTRACT: Victims of childhood trauma report shame and anticipation of stigma, leading to non-disclosure and avoidance of help. Stigma is potentially aggravating the mental health consequences of childhood trauma. So far there is no comprehensive study examining stigma toward adult survivors of various forms of childhood trauma, and it is unclear whether stigma interferes with reaching out to affected individuals. In a vignette study based on a representative sample of the German general population (N = 1320; 47.7% male) we randomly allocated participants to brief case vignettes pertaining to past childhood sexual/physical abuse or accidents, and adult physical abuse. Stigma was elicited by applying the Social Distance Scale, assessing respondents' attitudes/stereotypes toward the persons in the vig

SUBMITTER: Schomerus G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8523057 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature