Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-75dct Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-02T18:36:58.831Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Perceived Discrimination and Emotional Reactions in People with Different Types of Disabilities: A Qualitative Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2018

Daniel Pérez-Garín ,
Patricia Recio ,
Alejandro Magallares ,
Fernando Molero  and
Cristina García-Ael
Daniel Pérez-Garín*
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain).
Patricia Recio
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain).
Alejandro Magallares
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain).
Fernando Molero
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain).
Cristina García-Ael
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain).
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Daniel Pérez-Garín. Departamento de Psicología Social y de las Organizaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. 28040 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: dapgarin@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the discourse of people with disabilities regarding their perception of discrimination and stigma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten adults with physical disabilities, ten with hearing impairments and seven with visual impairments. The agreement between the coders showed an excellent reliability for all three groups, with kappa coefficients between .82 and .96. Differences were assessed between the three groups regarding the types of discrimination they experienced and their most frequent emotional responses. People with physical disabilities mainly reported being stared at, undervalued, and subtly discriminated at work, whereas people with hearing impairments mainly reported encountering barriers in leisure activities, and people with visual impairments spoke of a lack of equal opportunities, mockery and/or bullying, and overprotection. Regarding their emotional reactions, people with physical disabilities mainly reported feeling anxious and depressed, whereas people with hearing impairments reported feeling helpless, and people with visual impairments reported feeling anger and self-pity. Findings are relevant to guide future research and interventions on the stigma of disability.

Keywords

stigmadiscriminationdisabilityemotional reactionsqualitative study
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 21 , 2018 , E12
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

How to cite this article:

Pérez-Garín, D., Recio, P., Magallares, A., Molero, F., & García-Ael, C. (2018). Perceived discrimination and emotional reactions in people with different types of disabilities: A qualitative approach. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 21. e12. Doi:10.1017/sjp.2018.13

References

Ali, A., King, M., Strydom, A., & Hassiotis, A. (2015). Self-reported stigma and symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with intellectual disabilities: Findings from a cross-sectional study in England. Journal of Affective Disorders, 187, 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.07.046CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bos, A. E. R., Pryor, J. B., Reeder, G. D., & Stutterheim, S. E. (2013). Stigma: Advances in theory and research. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 35(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2012.746147Google Scholar
Bowleg, L. (2008). When black + lesbian + woman ≠ black lesbian woman: The methodological challenges of qualitative and quantitative intersectionality research. Sex roles, 59(5–6), 312–325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9400-zGoogle Scholar
Cavelti, M., Kvrgic, S., Beck, E-M., Rüsch, N., & Vauth, R. (2012). Self-stigma and its relationship with insight, demoralization, and clinical outcome among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53(5), 468–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.08.001Google Scholar
Corrigan, P. W., Larson, J. E., & Rüsch, N. (2009). Self-stigma and the “why try” effect: Impact on life goals and evidence-based practices. World Psychiatry, 8, 75–81. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2009.tb00218.xGoogle Scholar
Corrigan, P. W., Watson, A. C., & Barr, L. (2006). The self-stigma of mental illness: implications for self-esteem and self-efficacy. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25, 875–884. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2006.25.8.875CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crocker, J., Major, B., & Steele, C. (1998). Social stigma. In Gilbert, D. T., Fiske, S. T., & Lindzey, G. (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology, vols. 1 and 2 (4th ed.). (pp. 504–553). New York, NY US: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
de Boer, A., Pijl, S. J., & Minnaert, A. (2012). Students’ attitudes towards peers with disabilities: A review of the literature. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 59(4), 379–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2012.723944Google Scholar
Dinos, S., Stevens, S., Serfaty, M., Weich, S., & King, M. (2004). Stigma: The feelings and experiences of 46 people with mental illness. Qualitative study. The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science, 184, 176–181. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.184.2.176CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fine, M., & Asch, A. (1988). Disability beyond stigma: Social interaction, discrimination, and activism. Journal of Social Issues, 44(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1988.tb02045.xGoogle Scholar
Glaser, B. G. (1978). Theoretical sensitivity: Advances in the methodology of grounded theory. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.Google Scholar
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. London, UK: Weidenfeld and Nicholson.Google Scholar
Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Green, S., Davis, C., Karshmer, E., Marsh, P., & Straight, B. (2005). Living stigma: The impact of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. Sociological Inquiry, 75(2), 197–215. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.2005.00119.xGoogle Scholar
Instituto Nacional de Estadística [Spanish Statistical Office] (INE). (2014). El empleo de las personas con discapacidad [The employment of people with disabilities] Serie 2009–2014. Retrieved from INE website http://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/es/index.htm?padre=1792&capsel=1803Google Scholar
Jiménez, A., & Huete, A. (2002). La discriminación por motivos de discapacidad. Análisis de las respuestas recibidas al Cuestionario sobre Discriminación por Motivos de Discapacidad Promovido por el CERMI Estatal [Disability discrimination. Analysis of responses to the Questionnaire on Discrimination due to Disability promoted by the State CERMI]. Madrid, Spain: CERMI.Google Scholar
Lee, R. S., Kochman, A., & Sikkema, K. J. (2002). Internalized stigma among people living with HIV-AIDS. AIDS and Behavior, 6(4), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021144511957Google Scholar
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 363–385. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.363Google Scholar
Link, B. G., Yang, L. H., Phelan, J. C., & Collins, P. Y. (2004). Measuring mental illness stigma. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 30(3), 511–541. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a007098Google Scholar
Minichiello, V., Aroni, R., Timewell, E., & Alexander, L. (1990). Interview processes. In-depth interviewing: Researching people. London, UK: Routledge.Google Scholar
Molero, F., Recio, P., García-Ael, C., Fuster, M. J., & Sanjuán, P. (2012). Measuring dimensions of perceived discrimination in five stigmatized Groups. Social Indicators Research, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0179-5Google Scholar
Muñoz, M., Pérez Santos, E., & Crespo, M., Guillén, A. (2009). Estigma y enfermedad mental [Stigma and mental illness]. Madrid: Editorial Complutense.Google Scholar
Parker, R., & Aggleton, P. (2003). HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: A conceptual framework and implications for action. Social Science & Medicine, 57(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00304-0Google Scholar
Pascoe, E. A., & Smart Richman, L. (2009). Perceived discrimination and health: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 135(4), 531. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016059Google Scholar
Pérez-Garín, D., Molero, F., & Bos, A. E. (2015). Perceived discrimination, internalized stigma and psychological well-being of people with mental illness. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 18, E75. https://doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2015.74CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Przyborski, A., & Wohlrab-Sahr, M. (2010). Qualitative sozialforschung: Ein arbeitsbuch. [Qualitative research: A workbook] Munich, Germany: Oldenburg Wissenschaftsverlag GmbH.Google Scholar
Puhl, R. M., Luedicke, J., & Heuer, C. (2011). Weight-based victimization toward overweight adolescents: Observations and reactions of peers. Journal of School Health, 81(11), 696–703. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00646.xGoogle Scholar
Quiles, M., & Morera, M. (2008). El estigma social: La diferencia que nos hace inferiores. [Social stigma: The difference that makes us inferior]. In Morales, J. F., Huici, C., Gómez, A., & Gaviria, E. (Eds.). Método, Teoría e Investigación en Psicología Social [Methods, theory and research in social psychology] (pp. 377–397). Madrid, Spain: Pearson Educación.Google Scholar
Ritsher, J. B., Otilingam, P. G., & Grajales, M. (2003). Internalized stigma of mental illness: Psychometric properties of a new measure. Psychiatry Research, 121(1), 31–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2003.08.008Google Scholar
Ritsher, J. B., & Phelan, J. C. (2004). Internalized stigma predicts erosion of morale among psychiatric outpatients. Psychiatry Research, 129(3), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2004.08.003Google Scholar
Rüsch, N., Todd, A. R., Bodenhausen, G. V., Olschewski, M., & Corrigan, P. W. (2010). Automatically activated shame reactions and perceived legitimacy of discrimination: A longitudinal study among people with mental illness. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 41(1), 60–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2009.10.002Google Scholar
Scheff, T. J. (1998). Shame in the labeling of mental illness. In Gilbert, P. & Andrews, B. (Eds.), Shame: Interpersonal behavior, psychopathology, and culture. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Schur, L., Kruse, D., Blasi, J., & Blanck, P. (2009). Is disability disabling in all workplaces? Workplace disparities and corporate culture. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 48(3), 381–410. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-232X.2009.00565.xGoogle Scholar
Shier, M., Graham, J. R., & Jones, M. E. (2009). Barriers to employment as experienced by disabled people: A qualitative analysis in Calgary and Regina, Canada. Disability & Society, 24(1), 63–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687590802535485Google Scholar
Silván-Ferrero, M. P. (2008). Reacciones afectivas ante el estigma de la discapacidad. [Emotional reactions to the stigma of disability]. In Morales, J. F., Huici, C., Gómez, A., & Gaviria, E. (Eds.) Método, teoría e investigación en psicología social [Methods, theory and research in social psychology] (pp. 401–416). Madrid, Spain: Pearson Educación.Google Scholar
Visser, M. J., Kershaw, T., Makin, J. D., & Forsyth, B. W. C. (2008). Development of parallel scales to measure HIV-related stigma. AIDS and Behavior, 12(5), 759–771. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9363-7Google Scholar
Yanos, P. T., Roe, D., Markus, K., & Lysaker, P. H. (2008). Pathways between internalized stigma and outcomes related to recovery in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Psychiatric Services, 59(12), 1437–1442. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2008.59.12.1437Google Scholar
Zukoski, A. P., & Thorburn, S. (2009). Experiences of stigma and discrimination among adults living with HIV in a low HIV-prevalence context: a qualitative analysis. AIDS patient care and STDs, 23(4), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.1089=apc.2008.0168CrossRefGoogle Scholar