INTRODUCTION: HIV disproportionately affects African Americans, Latinos, and gay and bisexual men of all racial and ethnicity groups. People living with HIV/AIDS experience stigma related to their disease. HIV/AIDS stigma can have detrimental effects on HIV prevention, testing and treatment. Entertainment-education is a health communication strategy that can be used to influence behavioral and social change in the population. AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a Motion Comic intervention, an EE strategy, can decrease H/A stigma in a sample of MSM adolescents aged 15-24. METHODS: Participants were recruited from GA, FL, NY and CA using convenience sampling. A sample of MSM adolescents aged 15-24 (n=24) was used for this study. The study design is a one-group pretest-posttest intervention. Participants were shown the Motion Comic episodes. Participants completed pre- and post-viewing surveys to assess HIV/AIDS stigma. A summed variable was used as the outcome for total HIV/AIDS stigma. A paired samples t-test was used to measure a statistically significant difference in HIV/AIDS stigma from pretest to posttest. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in HIV stigma from pre-viewing survey (M = 9.87, SD = 3.49) to post-viewing survey (M = 8.65, SD = 2.48), t (22) = 2.01, p < .0285 (one-tailed). The mean decrease in HIV stigma scores was 1.22 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.177 to 2.248. The eta squared statistic (.16) indicated a large effect size. DISCUSSION: Results from this study show that viewing the Motion Comic may reduce HIV/AIDS stigma related to casual transmission of HIV and values, such as blame, shame and judgment, in MSM adolescents.

In this sociolinguistic study, qualitative interviews were used in examining discursive identity construction among russlanddeutsche Aussiedler. The interview group was composed of russlanddeutsche university students attending the Universität Mannheim in Germany, differentiating it from much of the previous research. In my analysis, working from a social constructionist perspective, I primarily make use of Positioning Theory and Critical Discourse Analytic techniques to show how the interviewees 1) construct groups; 2) relate to language; and 3) position themselves in relation to existing discourses in contemporary German society, including instances of resistance to those discourses. Ethnically Germans, but living on Russian/Soviet/post-Soviet territory for generations, Aussiedler have special claims to German citizenship and began their return to Germany after suffering mass repression for decades under the Soviet regime. In the aftermath of WWII, their emigration to Germany was initially limited, but reached high levels in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, as travel restrictions were relaxed and the Iron Curtain fell. Expecting to find acceptance as Deutsche unter Deutschen [Germans among Germans], the opposite often occurs: they are frequently categorized as ‘the Russians.’ Indeed, one of the most frequent comments made by members of this group is: In Russland waren wir Deutsche, hier sind wir Russen [In Russia we were Germans, here we are Russians]. In many respects, they have a stigmatized identity in both countries, Russia and Germany, and for this reason represent a particularly interesting group for identity research. Recent publications, most notably Reitemeier (2006a), have made mention of this ‘stigmatized identity’ and also of the fact that many Russlanddeutsche possess hybrid identities. These two concepts, stigma and hybridity, are explored throughout the thesis. The work begins by outlining the migratory, legal, and linguistic history of Russlanddeutsche. This is followed by an explanation of theoretical and methodological approaches which used to study the data, including Positioning Theory, stigma theory, a variant of Conversation Analysis, and Critical Discourse Analysis. The bulk of the thesis is then spent on the analysis of the qualitative interview data using those theories and methodologies. I conclude by summarizing my findings and suggesting areas for further research.

Man hör mycket om missbruk och missbrukare, men desto mindre om de som indirekt blir drabbade, det vill säga exempelvis familjemedlemmar. Det är dem vi har valt att belysa i vår uppsats. Under 1900- talet har det forskats inom ämnet alkoholmissbruk, dock har större delen av forskningen ägnats åt alkoholisten. Det har gjort att man har försummat deras familjer. Vi har därför valt att inrikta oss på vuxna som i sin barndom farit illa genom att de har haft missbrukande föräldrar, vars barndom alltså varit långt ifrån ”normal”.Syftet var att undersöka hur deras uppväxt har sett ut och hur den har påverkat deras liv idag. Vi har använt oss av kvalitativ metod i form av sju djupintervjuer med personer som vuxit upp med en eller två missbrukande föräldrar. Vi valde den metoden för att få en djupare förståelse för deras livssituation.   Resultaten visade att oavsett i vilken fas i livet våra intervjupersoner befann sig i så var de alla överens om att deras uppväxt på ett eller annat sätt påverkat deras liv idag. De nämner problem i deras förflutna, bland annat svårigheter i relationer och bristen på trygghet och tillit, men alla visade även styrkor som kommit ur deras erfarenheter.

In this sociolinguistic study, qualitative interviews were used in examining discursive identity construction among russlanddeutsche Aussiedler. The interview group was composed of russlanddeutsche university students attending the Universität Mannheim in Germany, differentiating it from much of the previous research. In my analysis, working from a social constructionist perspective, I primarily make use of Positioning Theory and Critical Discourse Analytic techniques to show how the interviewees 1) construct groups; 2) relate to language; and 3) position themselves in relation to existing discourses in contemporary German society, including instances of resistance to those discourses. Ethnically Germans, but living on Russian/Soviet/post-Soviet territory for generations, Aussiedler have special claims to German citizenship and began their return to Germany after suffering mass repression for decades under the Soviet regime. In the aftermath of WWII, their emigration to Germany was initially limited, but reached high levels in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, as travel restrictions were relaxed and the Iron Curtain fell. Expecting to find acceptance as Deutsche unter Deutschen [Germans among Germans], the opposite often occurs: they are frequently categorized as ‘the Russians.’ Indeed, one of the most frequent comments made by members of this group is: In Russland waren wir Deutsche, hier sind wir Russen [In Russia we were Germans, here we are Russians]. In many respects, they have a stigmatized identity in both countries, Russia and Germany, and for this reason represent a particularly interesting group for identity research. Recent publications, most notably Reitemeier (2006a), have made mention of this ‘stigmatized identity’ and also of the fact that many Russlanddeutsche possess hybrid identities. These two concepts, stigma and hybridity, are explored throughout the thesis. The work begins by outlining the migratory, legal, and linguistic history of Russlanddeutsche. This is followed by an explanation of theoretical and methodological approaches which used to study the data, including Positioning Theory, stigma theory, a variant of Conversation Analysis, and Critical Discourse Analysis. The bulk of the thesis is then spent on the analysis of the qualitative interview data using those theories and methodologies. I conclude by summarizing my findings and suggesting areas for further research.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att belysa hur några individer, på ett positivt sätt, handskats med problematiken runt alopeci vid cytostaticabehandling. Följande frågeställningar har varit i fokus: Hur såg dessa individers copingstrategier ut innan, under och efter håravfall? Finns det någon gemensam nämnare mellan individer som till synes har en väl fungerande  copingstrategi? Ostrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes samt skriftliga källor såsom bloggar och berättelser användes. Det resultat som kunde utläsas ur materialet har bland annat pekat på hur olika kamoufalgestrategier använts samt hur situationsbundna dessa var. Flertalet deltagare använde sig av såkallade anicipatory coping, såsom att införskaffa olika typer av camoufalge som inte nödvändigtvis kom till användning senare. Två olika strategier användes för att handskas med alopecin, antingen inkorporrerades hårlösheten som en del av personligheten eller så sågs utseendeförändringen som en ovidkommande del av sjukdomsförloppet som var skiljd från personligheten. Vidare var det gemensamt för deltagarna en acceptans av situationen och ett erkännande av olikheten snarare än ett försök att dölja och normalisera.

Författarna till denna studie har gjort en kvalitativ utredning kring alkoholvanor och missbruk, samt vilka orsaker det kan finnas till en hög alkoholkonsumtion i industristaden Oxelösund. Informanterna har utpekat vissa orsaker samt vilka förändringar de vill se i samhället.

The stigma scale (The Stigma Scale) can actually measure the degree of stigma of mental health problems nowadays. Although The Stigma Scale is a convenient and effective self-report assessment tool, there is no Chinese version in Taiwan. Therefore, this study aims to: (1) two stage translation of The Stigma Scale; (2) item analysis and streamline the number of items; (3)check the reliability and validity of the streamlining The Stigma Scale. Participants with chronic schizophrenia come from a psychiatric teaching hospital and a hospital center in south of Taiwan. After the exploratory factor analysis and the item analysis of the pre-test by 151 patients and the literature analysis, we found that the stigma of mental health problems includes three domains, discrimination, positive perception and disclosure. According to dimensions of analysis we retained 22 questions after selection, and test to 215 formal samples for confirmatory factor analysis, reliability and validity. Results showing: (1) The content validity is .92; (2) the internal consistency reliability after selection ranged from .83 ~ .93, one-month test-retest reliability Cronbach's coefficient ranged from .55 ~ .73; (3) confirmatory factor analysis showed that the "The Stigma Scale" has an acceptable model fit, ideal reliability and validity, and suitable for assessing the sense of the stigma of domestic patients with mental disorders. Also can be used on medical services and clinical assessment.

Drawing from the vast literature on stigmas, theories of status generalizations and affect, this study employs a formal framework to delineate among different kinds of stigmas and different processes by which they might operate. This study then considers the case of a particular type of stigma, a behavioral stigma, a label that is obtained from past behavior. The formalization distinguishes how knowledge of a particular type of stigma operates through group members who then cast an “other” into a stigmatized role with special attention to affect and behavior of the stigmatized individual and the other group members. Additionally, I am able to study the developmental process of stigma because, in the particular theoretical case I consider, the stigmatized individual is initially unaware of the stigma. The findings indicate that stigma were created and did have an effect on individuals and groups. While the observable power and prestige effects were much more pronounced for measures of content versus measures of amount of interaction stigmatized groups were characterized by more disapproval, fewer agreements and more interruptions than were nonstigmatized groups. Further, those who were stigmatized had less influence than other group members. In terms of feelings, there was support for the hypotheses suggesting that stigmatized individuals rate both themselves and their groups more negatively than do nonstigmatized group members. Also, those who were not stigmatized rated the stigmatized person more negatively than others. While there were no significant differences between Stigmatized and Control groups relative to happiness or group cohesion and efficiency, those in the Control groups were more committed to their groups than were those in the Stigmatized groups. This study contributes to the large literature on stigma by examining one kind of stigma. It also contributes to several established literatures in social psychological theory. This study has implications for the power of the social construction of stigma and consequently for the power of social construction in the dismantling of stigma.

Individuals who are members of stigmatized groups, such as lesbians, gays, and bisexuals, have cognitive deficits in situations that are threatening or hostile to the group in question. Stereotype threat and stigma threat research suggests these cognitive deficits occur in people who identify with stigmatized groups as a result of anxiety. Yet regulating impulses may also create cognitive deficits because it is effortful and diminishes the ability to perform cognitive tasks. This study investigates whether the regulation of undesired sexual impulses causes cognitive deficits in threatening situations even in people who do not identify with a stigmatized group. An implicit measure of sexual attraction to the same gender was administered to participants who self-identified as heterosexual (n = 317). Sexual impulses were primed by asking participants to write about an attractive person of the same or opposite sex or a neutral object. An interaction was found between implicit same sex attraction and the salience of same sex attraction in predicting self-control performance. Participants with a higher level of implicit same sex attraction performed worse on a self-control task after writing about the attractiveness of a same sex person. People with implicit same sex attraction who identify as heterosexual may have more difficulty with tasks requiring self-control or regulatory abilities as well as worse performance outcomes in work and school settings.

The present study explored the stigmatization experiences of dirty workers in one dirty work job-female exotic dancers-in an effort to understand the components of dirty work stigma. The framework presented here is based on the integration of existing theory regarding the components of stigma and dirty work. Grounded theory was used to guide the collection and analysis of interviews from 18 participants. Five dirty work stigma components were identified in the participant accounts (i.e., awareness of negative perceptions, type of stigma, visibility, controllability, and type of taint). These components were centrally organized around the moral taint of the dirty work job of exotic dancing.