Objectives: Caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often internalise misconceptions and negative reactions as affiliate stigma, leading to self-criticism, helplessness, and distress. Some psychosocial factors, like self-compassion, may be protective. The study examines parent affiliate stigma related to ASD in Italy, exploring its links with ASD severity, parents’ self-compassion, and psychological distress. Methods: A total of 76 primary caregivers completed an online survey including: the ASD Stigma Scale and Affiliate Stigma Scale for public and self-internalised stigma, respectively; the Social Responsiveness Scale for ASD symptoms severity; the DASS-21 for psychological distress, and the short form of the Self-Compassion Scale. Results: Affiliate stigma is positively linked with public ASD stigma and children’s characteristics (age, ASD severity), and negatively with self compassion. Mediation analyses indicate that public stigma impacts psychological distress through affiliate stigma. Self-compassion moderates this relation, confirming its buffering role. Conclusions: This study encourages targeting affiliate stigma as a direct vulnerability factor for psychological distress among caregivers of children with ASD. Furthermore, it points to the importance of parents’ early interventions, including self-compassion as a modifiable factor, to mitigate the negative impact of affiliate stigma on their well-being.
Autism, affiliate stigma and psychological distress among Italian parents: exploring the mediating role of self-compassion
Simone Rollo
2026-01-01
Abstract
Objectives: Caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often internalise misconceptions and negative reactions as affiliate stigma, leading to self-criticism, helplessness, and distress. Some psychosocial factors, like self-compassion, may be protective. The study examines parent affiliate stigma related to ASD in Italy, exploring its links with ASD severity, parents’ self-compassion, and psychological distress. Methods: A total of 76 primary caregivers completed an online survey including: the ASD Stigma Scale and Affiliate Stigma Scale for public and self-internalised stigma, respectively; the Social Responsiveness Scale for ASD symptoms severity; the DASS-21 for psychological distress, and the short form of the Self-Compassion Scale. Results: Affiliate stigma is positively linked with public ASD stigma and children’s characteristics (age, ASD severity), and negatively with self compassion. Mediation analyses indicate that public stigma impacts psychological distress through affiliate stigma. Self-compassion moderates this relation, confirming its buffering role. Conclusions: This study encourages targeting affiliate stigma as a direct vulnerability factor for psychological distress among caregivers of children with ASD. Furthermore, it points to the importance of parents’ early interventions, including self-compassion as a modifiable factor, to mitigate the negative impact of affiliate stigma on their well-being.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
