Stigma and Stigma Resilience: Role of the Undergraduate and the Campus Environment

Abstract

Rationale:Stigma permeates disability experiences and compounds disability-related challenges.Objective:Identify individual and environmental factors of stigmatizing experiences of college students with learning disabilities (LDs) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methodology:A qualitative descriptive design was used with a thematic analysis of 30 transcripts from group discussions among four cohorts of undergraduates with LD/ADHD ( N = 52). The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model was used in interpreting the stigmatizing experiences.Findings:The themes Perceived Misconceptions and Stigmatizing Actions describe key social-environmental factors. The theme Overcoming Stigmatizing Experiences elucidates key skills and processes for developing stigma resilience. These skills and processes were anchored in self-awareness and personally contextualized understanding of disability-related challenges and strengths, which were fostered during positive interactions with supportive others, such as instructors and mentors.Implications:Findings illustrate the biopsychosocial nature of stigma and highlight the role of individual and social-environmental factors in building stigma resilience among young adults with LD/ADHD.