Stigma is a form of negative social stereotype characterized by a lack of respect toward an individual or a group of people. It is defined as a personal attribute that triggers negative stereotypes, leading to adverse effects on the individuals concerned. This study aims to explore the self-perceived stigma experienced by adolescents with intellectual disabilities in Chile.

The results showed that the total self-perceived stigma score was relatively low among Chilean adolescents with intellectual disabilities compared to previously published reports from other countries. Some variations in reactions to discrimination were observed based on the type of schooling, particularly strong negative reactions associated with attending special schools. The low self-perceived stigma reported by Chilean adolescents with intellectual disabilities may be attributed to social and cultural factors, as well as the availability of social opportunities and their intensity.

Article published by Marcela Tenorio, Andrés Aparicio, Paulina Arango and Angela Hassiotis from MICARE, and Consuelo Reyes and Afia Ali.

Self-perceived stigma in Chilean adolescents with intellectual disability