Date of Award
12-2004
Level of Access Assigned by Author
Campus-Only Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Scott Eidelman
Second Committee Member
Joel M. Gold
Third Committee Member
Richard M. Ryckman
Abstract
Recent advances in the study of stress and coping have identified several key psychological and social factors that may play an integral role in reactions to stigma related stress. The present study aimed to apply these factors toward stigmatized individuals' capacities to cope with instances of prejudice and discrimination. An experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of attributions to prejudice and stigma consciousness on coping strategies and psychological well-being. In general, findings indicated that both situational and individual difference variables play a powerful role in determining how stigmatized individuals perceive and cope with potentially discriminatory situations. Furthermore, certain coping strategies were related to the psychological well-being of gay men, lesbians, and bisexual men and women. The implications of these findings for the psychological health and well-being of stigmatized individuals is discussed.
Recommended Citation
Goodman, Jeffrey A., "Experiences of the Stigmatized: Discrimination Likelihood, Stigma Consciousness, Attributions to Prejudice, Coping Strategies and Psychological Well-Being" (2004). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1378.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/1378