Study On Relationship Between Internalized Stigma And Interpersonal Attribution Of Middle School Students With Learning Disabilities

Stigma is defined as a devalued and insulted label which is imposed on some individuals or groups by the public. It made individuals or groups possess (or be believed to possess) certain attributes. These attributes can make a stigmatized person disparage himself and lead to unfair treatment in society. Internalized stigma may cause stigmatized individuals to experience rejection and to feel shame about their condition.The aims of this study were to assess internalized stigma among middle school students with LD and to better understand them. The problem of discrimination to middle school students with LD should be paid enough attention by parents, teachers and community leaders. We must come up with more ways to help the disadvantaged.Using literature analysis, interview method, open questionnaire and questionnaire survey, we proposed the questionnaire of internalized stigma of middle school students with LD. We developed a three-component construction of internalized stigma. We used the independent sample T test and one-way analysis of variance to analyze the differences of demographic variables in the dimensions of internalized stigma among middle school students with LD. We adopted correlation analysis and regression analysis to explore the relationship between internalized stigma and interpersonal attribution. And we also discussed if the interpersonal attribution had significant influence on internalized stigma. The study reaches conclusions as follows:First, the questionnaire of internalized stigma of middle school students with LD includes thirteen items, and the structure of it is composed of three dimensions: the experience of discrimination, a sense of alienation, concealment. This questionnaire has good reliability and validity.Second, there are no significant grade differences in internalized stigma and its dimensions. And there are significant differences in the rest of the demographic variables in internalized stigma and its dimensions.Third, three dimensions of internalized stigma of middle school students with LD and their interpersonal attribution have significant positive correlation. Dimensions of interpersonal attribution can predict internalized stigma and its dimensions.Fourth, there are significant differences in interpersonal attribution between the middle school students low on internalized stigma and high on internalized stigma.