Stigma is associated with illness self-concept in individuals with concealable chronic illnesses

Previous research suggests that chronic illnesses can elicit stigma, even when those illnesses are concealable. Such stigmatization is assumed to lead to a stigmatized identity. Additionally, chronic illness affects one's self-concept, as one reconstructs a sense of self with illness incorporated. However, no research has examined the interplay between stigma and self-concept in those with concealable chronic illnesses. Therefore, we investigated the extent to which experienced, anticipated, and internalized stigma are associated with illness self-concept in individuals living with concealable chronic illnesses. Furthermore, we explored if the aforementioned aspects of stigma are associated with enrichment in the self-concept in the same cohort.

An online correlational survey of people with concealable chronic illness (N = 446).

Participants completed self-report measures of chronic illness-specific measures of stigma and illness self-concept, both negative and positive.

Results indicated that there is a positive relationship between experienced, anticipated, and internalized stigma and illness self-concept, indicating that stigma is associated with increased preoccupation and perceived impact of one's illness on the self. Although there is also a negative relationship between anticipated and internalized stigma and enrichment, only internalized stigma is associated with enrichment over and above the effects of control variables such as personal control.

Our findings bridge the existing literature on illness self-concept and stigma for chronic illness groups, with a specific focus on those with concealable chronic illnesses. More varied approaches to coping with illness should be encouraged, including encouraging enrichment aspects to potentially act as a buffer between the effects of stigma and illness self-concept.