Understanding Stigma and Health

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.