Stigma is associated with illness self-concept in individuals with concealable chronic illnesses

Objectives: Previous research suggests that chronic illnesses can elicit stigma, even when those illnesses are concealable. Such stigmatization is assumed to lead to a stigmatized identity. Additionally, chronic illness affects one’s self-concept, as one reconstructs a sense of self with illness incorporated. However, no research has examined the interplay between stigma and self-concept in those with concealable chronic illnesses. Therefore, we investigated the extent to which experienced, anticipated, and internalized stigma are associated with illness self-concept in individuals living with concealable chronic illnesses. Furthermore, we explored if the aforementioned aspects of stigma are associated with enrichment in the self-concept in the same cohort. Design: An online correlational survey of people with concealable chronic illness (N = 446). Methods: Participants completed self-report measures of chronic illness-specific measures of stigma and illness self-concept, both negative and positive. Results: Results indicated that there is a positive relationship between experienced, anticipated, and internalized stigma and illness self-concept, indicating that stigma is associated with increased preoccupation and perceived impact of one’s illness on the self. Although there is also a negative relationship between anticipated and internalized stigma and enrichment, only internalized stigma is associated with enrichment over and above the effects of control variables such as personal control. Conclusions: Our findings bridge the existing literature on illness self-concept and stigma for chronic illness groups, with a specific focus on those with concealable chronic illnesses. More varied approaches to coping with illness should be encouraged, including encouraging enrichment aspects to potentially act as a buffer between the effects of stigma and illness self-concept.