The assessment of stigma: implications for theory and intervention

Self-disclosure data from marijuana smokers are considered. Attention is given to disclosure patterns in relation to four types of reference individuals and to feelings about disclosure. Users were most likely to disclose and to feel comfortable about disclosing to high intimate and nonauthority reference individuals. They were less likely to disclose and to feel comfortable about disclosing (1) to low intimate and nonauthority reference individuals, and (2) to authority-reference individuals--irrespective of their intimacy with them. The implications of a self-disclosure-reference-individual strategy for the study of stigma and for intervention purposes are discussed.