EXAMINING HEALTH RELATED EXPERIENCES IN ADOLESCENTS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Abstract

This study was focused on investigating the general patterns of self-reported health-related stigma in adolescents with SCD. To date there was little research concerning adolescent experiences with health-related stigma. The study examined how SCD stigma affects other aspects of the adolescents’ lives, including their health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and functional disability. It was hypothesized that most of the participants will report experiencing moderate levels of stigma, and that higher health-related stigma will be related to poorer health outcomes for adolescents with SCD. The findings reported that low amounts of stigma were experienced. Those that did report stigmatizing experiences reported poorer health outcomes.