Internalised stigma in adults with autism: A German multi-center survey

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Jun:276:94-99. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.04.023. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of internalised stigma and possible predictors in adults with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We measured internalised stigma in a sample of 149 adults with ASD and an IQ ≥70 (79.2% male, mean age 31.8 years), using the Brief Version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-10). The mean ISMI-10 score was 1.93 (SD=0.57), with 15.4% of participants reporting moderate or severe internalised stigma. Moderate or severe stigma was more frequent in persons aged ≥35 years (OR: 4.36), and in individuals with low educational level (OR: 6.00). IQ, sex and ASD diagnostic subtype (ICD-10) did not influence stigma severity. Compared to other mental disorders, the level of internalised stigma in adults with ASD without intellectual disability appears to be lower.

Keywords: Adults; Autism spectrum disorder; Germany; ISMI questionnaire; Stigma.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
  • Defense Mechanisms*
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnosis
  • Intellectual Disability / epidemiology
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / trends
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Social Stigma*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult