Self-stigma of stuttering: Implications for self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction
Open Access
- Author:
- Boyle, Michael Patrick
- Graduate Program:
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 15, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Gordon William Blood, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Gordon William Blood, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Ingrid Maria Blood, Committee Member
Robert Anthony Prosek, Committee Member
James Taylor Herbert, Committee Member - Keywords:
- stuttering
stigma
self-esteem
self-efficacy
life satisfaction
scale development
attitudes - Abstract:
- Stuttering is a communication disorder that is often stigmatized in our society and people who stutter may internalize this stigma. Although research has been conducted regarding stigma associated with stuttering, no research to date has analyzed different theoretical levels of stigma and how these relate to aspects of psychological well-being among adults who stutter. The purpose of this study was to create a psychometrically sound scale that measured different levels of internalized stigma (i.e., self-stigma) and analyze their relationships to self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction. It was hypothesized that the experimental scale would demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties and that stigma self-concurrence would be negatively related to self-esteem, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life among adults who stutter. Participants were 291 adults who stutter (ages 18 or older) recruited from the National Stuttering Association, as well as Board Recognized Specialists in Fluency Disorders. A Web-based survey including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Satisfaction With Life Scale, and the Perceived Stuttering Severity Scale was given to participants along with an experimental scale called the Self-Stigma of Stuttering Scale, or 4S, intended to measure self-stigma of people who stutter. The 4S demonstrated adequate reliability and signs of initial construct validity. Factor analysis revealed underlying components supportive of the hypothesized multidimensional model of stigma. Stigma self-concurrence, and to a lesser extent stereotype agreement, were negatively correlated with self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction, even beyond perceived stuttering severity. Stigma self-concurrence was a significant predictor of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among people who stutter, above and beyond demographic and stuttering-related variables. It is concluded that many people who stutter are resilient and can buffer self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction even in the face of public stigma. However, those who internalize stigma and apply stigmatizing attitudes to themselves experience lower levels of psychological well-being. Speech-language pathologists should value and prioritize identification and modification of self-stigma in their adult clients who stutter.