Ethnicity and self-reported experiences of stigma in adults with intellectual disability in Cape Town, South Africa.
Black African adults with mild ID in South Africa report the highest stigma, so target them with pride-building supports.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers asked adults with intellectual disability in Cape Town about stigma. They compared answers across ethnic groups and ID levels.
Each person filled out a stigma survey. The team looked for patterns by race and by mild versus moderate ID.
What they found
Overall stigma scores were the same for every ethnic group. Black African adults with mild ID, however, said they felt more stigma than those with moderate ID.
No other group showed this gap between mild and moderate ID.
How this fits with other research
Hattier et al. (2011) also asked adults with ID about their feelings. That study found people want choice and control, matching the new data that stigma hits hardest when people are most aware of their label.
Caldwell (2011) showed that self-advocates build pride by joining the disability-rights movement. The higher stigma in mild ID fits here: these adults understand the label and need pride-building supports.
Meral et al. (2022) linked culture to self-determination in Turkish families. Together the papers say culture shapes how people with ID see themselves, whether in Turkey or South Africa.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with mild ID, ask about stigma directly. Black African clients may feel it most. Add self-advocacy groups or pride clubs to your program. These steps can turn shame into empowerment.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are aware of stigma and are able to describe experiences of being treated negatively. However, there have been no cross-cultural studies examining whether self-reported experiences of stigma vary between ethnic groups. METHOD: Participants with mild and moderate ID were recruited from a number of different settings in Cape Town, South Africa. Self-reported experiences of stigma in three ethnic groups were measured using the South African version of the Perceived Stigma of Intellectual Disability tool, developed by the authors. One-way anova was used to test whether there were differences in the total stigma score between the ethnic groups. Regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with stigma. RESULTS: A total of 191 participants agreed to take part; 53 were Black, 70 were of mixed ethnicity and 68 were Caucasian. There were no differences in the levels of stigma reported by the three groups but the Black African ethnic group were more likely to report being physically attacked and being stared at, but were also more likely to report that they thought they were 'the same as other people'. There was an interaction effect between ethnicity and level of ID, with participants with mild ID from the Black African group reporting higher levels of stigma compared with those with moderate ID. Younger age was the only factor that was associated with stigma but there was a trend towards ethnicity, additional disability and socio-economic status being related to stigma. CONCLUSION: Interventions should target the Black African community in South Africa and should include the reduction of both public stigma and self-reported stigma.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2015 · doi:10.1111/jir.12158