Authors
Emeline Han, Katrina Scior, Katerina Avramides, Laura Crane
Publication date
2022/1
Source
Autism Research
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
12-26
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Description
Autism can be understood as a concealable stigmatized identity. This is the first systematic review to synthesize the literature on autistic people's experiences of stigma and coping strategies. 2877 studies were screened and 27 were included in this review. The reviewed literature demonstrates that autistic individuals are acutely aware of being stereotyped, judged, and discriminated by others. Autistic people also show signs of internalizing stigma, rendering them more vulnerable to low self‐worth and poorer mental health. To manage the impact of stigma, the included studies suggest that autistic individuals may use these strategies: concealment and camouflaging, selective disclosure and self‐advocacy, as well as positive reframing and reconstructing identity. However, the evidence is limited and mixed in terms of how helpful and effective these strategies are. Future studies should include autistic populations …
Total citations
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