Understanding Stigma and Health
Will be published approx. on 28. January 2026
Book
Hardback
206 pages
978-1-0353-4726-1 (ISBN)
Description
Steve Sussman explores the origins, evolution, and future directions of stigma research and health, providing detailed insights into the impact of stigmatization on quality of life and health behavior outcomes.
Stigma is examined through three levels of analysis - individual, microsocial, and structural - to evaluate its effects on the physical and mental health of various populations. These populations include individuals with mental illnesses, substance addictions, incarceration, homelessness, physical diseases, disabilities, or physical differences, and LGBTQ+ populations. Chapters also investigate stigmatization as a function of age, gender, socioeconomic status, occupation, ethnicity, and religion. Sussman traces the development of stigma assessment, examining research methods such as social distance scales, surveys, and qualitative approaches. Furthermore, Sussman identifies key barriers to reducing stigmatization, presenting solutions across multiple levels, including changes among stigmatized individuals, to those who stigmatize them, and broader structural reforms.
Understanding Stigma and Health is an invaluable resource for scholars and students across the social sciences, including those in the fields of social psychology, health psychology, health behavior research, sociology, social work, health policy, and public health.
Stigma is examined through three levels of analysis - individual, microsocial, and structural - to evaluate its effects on the physical and mental health of various populations. These populations include individuals with mental illnesses, substance addictions, incarceration, homelessness, physical diseases, disabilities, or physical differences, and LGBTQ+ populations. Chapters also investigate stigmatization as a function of age, gender, socioeconomic status, occupation, ethnicity, and religion. Sussman traces the development of stigma assessment, examining research methods such as social distance scales, surveys, and qualitative approaches. Furthermore, Sussman identifies key barriers to reducing stigmatization, presenting solutions across multiple levels, including changes among stigmatized individuals, to those who stigmatize them, and broader structural reforms.
Understanding Stigma and Health is an invaluable resource for scholars and students across the social sciences, including those in the fields of social psychology, health psychology, health behavior research, sociology, social work, health policy, and public health.
Reviews / Votes
'Sussman skillfully brings together decades of literature, condensing a complex and nuanced body of work into a clear and insightful book that honors the many facets of stigmatization. Readers of this book will gain a profound understanding of the intricacies of stigma, the harm it can inflict, and strategies for reducing its impact.' -- Jason T. Siegel, Claremont Graduate University, USA 'Steve Sussman's book brings fresh insights to this topic, developing a wide-ranging coverage of what stigma means and how it can be addressed by social, clinical, and community researchers. It gives real-world examples on how stigma concepts can be involved for areas as diverse as physical health, mental illness, and substance abuse, treating each with intellectual rigor and unique psychological insights. It also provides an original approach to how stigma can be countered by changing oneself (e.g., through cognitive restructuring) and changing others (e.g., through activism), carefully considering possible costs as well as benefits of each approach.' -- Thomas Wills, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, USAMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-4726-1 (9781035347261)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Steve Sussman, PhD, FAAHB, FAPA, FSPR, Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences, Psychology, and Social Work, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
Content
Contents
Preface viii
PART I Stigma concepts and methods
Introduction to Part I 2
1 History of the study of stigma and current concepts 3
2 Levels of stigmatization (the stigma complex) 18
3 Methods of the study of stigma 26
PART II Stigma research areas: populations
Introduction to Part II 41
4 Mental illness, substance use disorder, incarceration,
homelessness 44
5 Physical diseases 64
6 LGBTQ+ 78
7 Demographics: age, gender, SES, occupation 91
8 Physical disabilities or differences, physical appearance 105
9 Ethnicity and religion 116
PART III Solutions to stigmatization
Introduction to Part III 128
10 Resolving stigma: changing oneself 131
11 Resolving stigma: changing others 141
12 Barriers to change, future needed research directions,
concluding comments 155
References 164
Preface viii
PART I Stigma concepts and methods
Introduction to Part I 2
1 History of the study of stigma and current concepts 3
2 Levels of stigmatization (the stigma complex) 18
3 Methods of the study of stigma 26
PART II Stigma research areas: populations
Introduction to Part II 41
4 Mental illness, substance use disorder, incarceration,
homelessness 44
5 Physical diseases 64
6 LGBTQ+ 78
7 Demographics: age, gender, SES, occupation 91
8 Physical disabilities or differences, physical appearance 105
9 Ethnicity and religion 116
PART III Solutions to stigmatization
Introduction to Part III 128
10 Resolving stigma: changing oneself 131
11 Resolving stigma: changing others 141
12 Barriers to change, future needed research directions,
concluding comments 155
References 164