Table 4 Assessment of negative experiences (enacted stigma) among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Assessment of felt stigma (N = 230) | Never(%) | Rarely(%) | S/times(%) | Often(%) | Always(%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
People think less of those with ASD | 66(28.7) | 16(7.0) | 92(40.0) | 36(15.7) | 20(8.7) |
People think less of me or my family because of my autistic child(ren) | 107(46.5) | 23(10.0) | 68(29.6) | 23(10.0) | 9(3.9) |
An average person is afraid of someone with autism | 44(19.1) | 16(7.0) | 111(48.3) | 37(16.1) | 22(9.6) |
My child has been stigmatized because of his/her autistic diagnosis | 99(43.1) | 19(8.3) | 63(27.4) | 27(11.8) | 22(9.6) |
I have been stigmatized because of my child’s(ren)’s condition | 110(47.8) | 17(7.4) | 65(28.3) | 19(8.3) | 19(8.3) |
Other members of my family have been stigmatized because of my child’s condition | 148(64.4) | 20(8.7) | 47(20.4) | 10(4.4) | 5(2.2) |
Negative stereotype has affected my family’s ability to make or keep friends | 101(43.9) | 29(12.6) | 73(31.7) | 20(8.7) | 7(3.0) |
Negative stereotype has affected my ability to interact with other relatives | 122(53.0) | 24(10.4) | 59(25.7) | 19(8.3) | 6(2.6) |
My experiences with stigma have affected my family’s quality of life | 114(49.5) | 14(6.1) | 77(33.5) | 17(7.4) | 8(3.5) |
People discriminate against me because I have a child with autism | 76(33.0) | 105(48.7) | 20(8.7) | 23(10.0) | 6(2.6) |
People ignore me or take me less seriously because I have a child with autism | 64(27.8) | 119(51.7) | 21(9.1) | 18(7.8) | 8(3.5) |
Overall experience | Freq(n = 23) | (%) | |||
Have negative experience | 122 | 53.0 | |||
Do not have negative experience | 108 | 47.0 | |||
Total | 230 | 100.0 |