Stigma toward internalizing and externalizing disorders: How do adolescents perceive their peers? A network analysis approach

Stefania Mannarini; Federica Taccini; Alessandro Alberto Rossi

doi:10.1111/jora.12839

Stigma toward internalizing and externalizing disorders: How do adolescents perceive their peers? A network analysis approach

J Res Adolesc. 2023 Sep;33(3):803-815. doi: 10.1111/jora.12839. Epub 2023 Feb 26.

Authors

Stefania Mannarini^{1

2}, Federica Taccini^{2

3}, Alessandro Alberto Rossi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
² Interdepartmental Center for Family Research, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
³ Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

PMID: 36841962
DOI: 10.1111/jora.12839

Abstract

This study's first aim was to explore whether stigma's facets differ between internalizing and externalizing disorders in adolescence. The second aim was to compare the relationships among stigma's facets toward these disorders. Two vignettes depicting a peer with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were used with 616 adolescents in Italy. A Repeated measure MANOVA showed biogenetic causes, social distancing, and discomfort were more attributed to depression, while dangerousness to ADHD. Furthermore, a Psychometric Network Analysis showed no differences between these disorders in the relations among stigma's components. However, dangerousness seemed to be among the nodes with the highest levels of "strength," confirming previous literature that shows that dangerousness plays a major role in stigma.

Keywords: adolescence; mental disorders; stigma.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Humans
Italy
Multivariate Analysis
Peer Group