Cleft Lip and/or Palate: Children's Experiences of Stigma in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Given prior craniofacial research reporting higher risk for negative social interactions, this study aimed to explore experiences of stigma described by children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). DESIGN: Qualitative interviews were conducted with children in three sessions (totaling 90-180 min) using creative activities in their homes and/or and walking interviews in their neighborhood. Interview transcriptions were interpreted primarily with thematic analysis following theoretical frameworks of the stigmatization process and self-stigma concept. SETTING: Participants were recruited through Operation Smile Colombia. Interviews took place at children's homes and neighborhoods within three Colombian regions (Boyacá, Bogotá and Cundinamarca). PARTICIPANTS: Children (N = 12) with CL/P aged between 6-12 years were interviewed. RESULTS: Themes fit within the stigmatization process, starting with labeling and stereotyping, such as a range of mockery, and group separation by peers highlighting their not belonging and being socially 'other'. Status loss themes included negative appraisals of cleft-related differences and being perceived as 'ill' and 'imperfect'. Social exclusion themes reflected limited social interactions and loneliness. Self-stigma themes included shame about speaking with peers and anticipation of negative social interactions. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the process of stigmatization and self-stigma adversely affect social interactions for children with a cleft in multiple ways. Healthcare practitioners and policy makers can help address the potential consequences of stigma by implementing interventions at micro, meso and macro levels.

Sexist textbooks: Automated analysis of gender bias in 1,255 books from 34 countries.

Textbooks play a critical role in schooling around the world. Small sample studies show that many books continue to under-represent women and girls, and to portray men and women in stereotypical gendered roles. In this paper, we use quantitative text analysis to assess the degree of gender bias in a newly assembled corpus of 1,255 English language school textbooks from 34 countries that are publicly available online. We find consistent patterns of under-representation of female characters and portrayal of stereotypical gendered roles. Women and girls appear less frequently, are portrayed as more passive, are less likely to be associated with work or achievement, and are more likely to be associated with the home and traditionally female occupations. Comparing across countries, female representation in books is correlated with higher GDP and more legal rights for women. Under-representation and stereotypes are a particular problem in South Asia.

Differences in body dissatisfaction between individuals with and without stigma toward obesity: A study of preadolescents and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have focused on understanding the biopsychosocial implications of obesity stigma and have made proposals to minimize its negative consequences, as well as recommendations to eliminate or reduce this stigma; however, knowing which individuals stigmatize obesity and why will allow us to have a broader picture of stigmatization and thus help in planning interventions with greater impact. OBJECTIVE: The aims were to describe the stigmatization toward obesity in preadolescents and adolescents and to determine whether there are differences in body dissatisfaction, abnormal eating behaviors and self-esteem among those with and without stigma toward obesity. METHODS: A total of 307 preadolescents and 349 adolescents answered a set of questionnaires that evaluated abnormal eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem and stigma. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of the participants stigmatized individuals with obesity, with preadolescents having the greatest stigma levels. Differences were observed only in body dissatisfaction, where the group of preadolescents who stigmatized individuals with obesity and the group of adolescents who did not stigmatize individuals with obesity reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: Obesity is stigmatized at early ages, regardless of sex; however, preadolescents with stigma toward obesity and adolescents without stigma toward obesity have greater body dissatisfaction, indicating that body dissatisfaction plays a crucial role in the stigmatization of obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional analytical study.

Perceived causes and stigmatization of tuberculosis among Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a pressing public health issue in many developing countries, with India having the highest number of cases. Lack of awareness and stigmatization of TB remains a significant barrier to addressing this challenge. This paper examines the perceived causes and stigma associated with TB among Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. METHODS: The study employed a mixed research approach, involving 106 TB patients (both pulmonary and extrapulmonary), both current and retrospective cases, from the Apatani tribe in Ziro valley, Arunachal Pradesh. Participants were selected from all the seven traditionally divided villages using purposive sampling. Semi-structured pre-tested schedules were used to conduct interviews with the patients. RESULTS: Among participants, 29.24% attributed TB to transmission, 34.91% had alternative explanations, and 35.85% remained uncertain about the causes. Notably, more Pulmonary TB patients reported transmission as the cause. A 10.75% higher likelihood of having misconceptions was observed among males. Literate individuals had 13.27% greater chance of being aware, although, higher education levels did not consistently follow this trend. Perceived stigmatization was evident mainly due to the contagious nature of the disease. CONCLUSION: A significant knowledge gap was evident among TB patients, with very few having a clear understanding of the causes of this disease. Gender differences in this regard were minimal. Literate individuals were more likely to understand the causes. Additionally, perceived stigmatization was a notable concern in the study.

Conceptualising constructive resistance as a thriving strategy for men in nursing.

Nursing has improved over the centuries from the physician's handmaiden to a recognised profession. Yet, the image of a nurse is often associated with notions of caring and nurturing- attributes considered feminine. Indeed, cultural, and societal biases exist that can deter men from entering the nursing profession where their sense of masculinity is questioned. Several studies have highlighted the existence of gender-based stereotypes, stigma, rejection, loneliness and discrimination which impact the retention of men in the nursing profession. Despite the established evidence regarding negative experiences, it appears limited attention has been paid to the men who decide to stay in nursing: how do they thrive in a profession wherein biases are evident within and in the wider societal context? Undoubtedly, several factors such as job security and financial incentives may contribute to men remaining in nursing. Beyond these, we borrow the notion of 'constructive resistance' to underscore that though the biases may be apparent, male nurses are able to construct alternatives that accommodate the image of a man in the nursing profession. Strategies such as developing the image as a 'super nurse' can create opportunities for male nurses to be preferred by other healthcare providers as well as female nurses. Thus, although resistance may usually appear as a negative phenomenon, constructive resistance represents hidden advantages which offers an opportunity to retain male nurses. These need to be highlighted and explored more as they can offer deeper insight into strategies that can be employed to improve retention and representation of men in nursing particularly at a time when the impact of nursing shortage remains a global issue.

The Effect of Addiction Course on Nursing Students' Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Individuals With Substance Use Disorder.

BACKGROUND: The approach of nursing department students who will practice the nursing profession in the future, which they adopt for individuals with addiction, bears importance. This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in stigmatizing attitudes of nursing students who took the addiction course toward individuals with substance use disorder. METHOD: The study was conducted in a single group in a pretest-posttest order. Necessary approvals (institution and ethics committee) were obtained to carry out the study. The study sample was made up of 76 students who took an addiction course in the 2020-2021 academic year and who agreed to participate in the research. A questionnaire form and the Alcohol and Substance Addiction Stigmatizing Attitudes Scale were used as data collection tools. Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found as 0.90. In addition to descriptive statistics, the paired sample t test was used in the analysis of the data from the dependent groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the participating students was 21.2 ± 0.73 years, and 93.4% were female. In the pretest, 10 (13.2%) students reported that they smoked, and seven students (9.2%) reported that they used alcohol. There were no individuals who used any substance other than cigarette or alcohol in the sample. The mean score of the students on the Alcohol and Substance Addiction Stigmatizing Attitudes Scale was 13.89 ± 5.16 in the pretest and 7.34 ± 5.51 in the posttest. This difference was found as statistically significant (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: It was established in this study that the addiction course reduced the stigmatizing attitudes of nursing students toward individuals with substance use disorder.

Self-stigmatization and treatment preferences: Measuring the impact of treatment labels on choices for depression medications.

OBJECTIVE: To collect evidence on the possibility that patients with depression experience self-stigmatization based on label information for medications. METHODS: We developed a discrete-choice experiment (DCE) survey instrument that asked respondents to make choices between hypothetical treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). We also included treatment type (antidepressants versus antipsychotics) and approved indications for the medication. The choice questions mimicked the information presented in product inserts and required systematic tradeoffs between treatment efficacy, treatment type, and indication. We calculated how many patients were willing to forgo efficacy to avoid treatments with information associated with self-stigmatization, and how much efficacy they were willing to forgo. We also evaluated the impact of contextualizing the treatment information to reduce self-stigmatization by randomizing respondents who received additional context. RESULTS: A total of 501 patients with MDD were recruited to complete the DCE survey. Respondents had well-defined preferences for treatment outcomes. Over 60% (63.4%) of respondents were found to be significantly affected by treatment indication. These respondents were willing to forgo about 2.5 percentage points in the chance of treatment efficacy to avoid treatments indicated for schizophrenia. We also find that some level of contextualization of the treatment details could help reduce the negative impact of treatment type and indications. CONCLUSIONS: Product-label treatment indication can potentially lead to patient self-stigmatization as shown by patients' avoidance of treatments that are also used to treat schizophrenia. While the effect appears to be relatively small, results suggests that the issue is likely pervasive.

The Role of Negative Age Stereotypes and Sociodemographic Factors in the Intention to Leave Among German University Hospital Nursing Staff.

Staff shortages are a global problem in the nursing profession. Negative beliefs about older workers may have detrimental effects on the development and performance capacity of an aging workforce. To date, little is known about the impact of age stereotypes and potential factors on nurses' intent to leave (ITL). Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess intention to leave and potential predictors (eg, sociodemographic characteristics and age stereotypes) in a large representative sample of nurses in a German university hospital setting. A total of 423 nurses at the University Hospital of Heidelberg participated in a cross-sectional questionnaire study assessing sociodemographic data, age stereotypes using the "Beliefs About Older Workers" questionnaire, and participants' intentions to leave and give up their profession. Questionnaires were returned by 423 nurses (13.7% response rate). The results revealed that negative age stereotypes were highly prevalent. Significant correlations between age and negative age stereotypes were found, indicating that the younger the nurses were, the more negative their age stereotypes were. Most nurses with negative age stereotypes had no intention to leave their profession; however, the majority of nurses could not imagine working in the profession until they retired. Despite the low response rate, the results of the current study suggest that organizational and societal measures to reduce age stereotypes should be directed at newcomers and young nurses to retain them in the profession in the long term.

'Broken souls' vs. 'mad ax man' - changes in the portrayal of depression and schizophrenia in the German media over 10 years.

AIMS: Population studies show the stigma of depression to diminish, while the stigma of schizophrenia increases. To find out whether this widening gap is reflected in the media portrayal of both disorders, this study compares the portrayal of depression and schizophrenia in German print media in 2010 vs. 2020. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative content analysis using a mixed deductive-inductive approach to establish a category system. In total, we analyzed 854 articles with the summative approach by Mayring. RESULTS: The study found a widening gap in the portrayal of schizophrenia and depression in German media between 2010 and 2020. Schizophrenia was depicted increasingly negative between 2010 and 2020, covering more negative stereotypes and focusing on its biological causes. Depression received increased attention and more neutral and professional coverage, with a greater emphasis on psychosocial causes and discussion of treatment options. CONCLUSIONS: By showing a widening gap the study highlights how media may shape public views on mental illnesses and reflects public attitudes at the same time. Media analyses from other nations have shown similar trends. This emphasizes the need for responsible reporting to combat stigma and promote understanding worldwide. Therefore, the authors recommend a balanced coverage that includes accurate professional information about all mental illnesses.

Weight Bias and Stigma in Pediatric Obesity.

Weight stigma is pervasive during childhood and adolescent years. Well-established physical and psychosocial health consequences of weight stigma, like disordered eating behaviors, low self-esteem, and higher depressive symptoms, make it especially harmful during a critical period of development for youth. Lasting negative health impacts of these experiences highlight the importance of addressing weight stigma early on. The pediatric health care setting, both physical and social components, can be one of many sources of weight-stigmatizing experiences for youth. This observation has prompted calls for action in the health care setting to reduce weight biases and stigmatizing behavior among pediatric providers.

Perception of stigma across diagnostic models of personality pathology.

Stigmatizing views surrounding mental illness are widespread. Personality disorders (PDs) are among the most stigmatized mental illnesses, as individuals with PDs are often described using pejorative terms, which might impact clinicians' a priori expectations and increase the likelihood of stigmatization, discrimination, or early termination from treatment. The degree to which the terms used in any diagnostic classification systems are stigmatizing has never been examined. The current study aims to explore the level of stigma perceived in diagnostic terms used and to compare which systems of classification (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition [DSM-5] Section II, DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorder, and Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology [HiTOP]) are reported as less stigmatizing. The current study consisted of three samples. Individuals with lived experience of personality pathology (n = 218) completed an online survey examining the level of stigma perceived in diagnostic terms; mental health care providers (n = 75) and undergraduate psychology students (n = 732) also completed online surveys examining their perceptions of stigma within diagnostic terms. We examined differences in perceived stigma between the three classification systems across the three samples. Among mental health care providers, the HiTOP was rated as the least stigmatizing while DSM-5 categorical labels were rated as the most stigmatizing. There were no significant differences found among individuals with lived experience or undergraduate students. Understanding the degree to which the terms used to describe personality pathology contributes to reducing stigma has potentially important repercussions for research and clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Observers' motivated sensitivity to stigmatized actors' intent.

Does a harmful act appear more intentional-and worthy of opprobrium-if it was committed by a member of a stigmatized group? In two studies (N = 1,451), participants read scenarios in which an actor caused a homicide. We orthogonally manipulated the relative presence or absence of distal intent (a focus on the end) and proximal intent (a focus on the means) in the actor's mind. We also varied the actor's racial (Study 1) or political (Study 2) group. In both studies, participants judged the stigmatized actor more harshly than the non-stigmatized actor when the actor's level of intent was ambiguous (i.e., one form of intent was high and the other form of intent was low). These data suggest that observers apply a sliding threshold when judging an actor's intent and moral responsibility; whereas less-stigmatized actors elicit condemnation only when they cause the outcome with both types of intent in mind, more-stigmatized actors elicit condemnation when only one type, or even neither type (Study 2) of intent is in their mind. We discuss how these results enrich the literature on lay theories of intentionality.

An evolutionary concept analysis: stigma among women living with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Stigma is a complex social phenomenon that leads to marginalization and influences the course of illness. In the context of hepatitis C virus (HCV), stigma is a well-documented barrier to accessing care, treatment, and cure. In recent years, HCV rates among women have increased, resulting in an urgent need to address stigma and its harmful effects. The purpose of this concept analysis was to investigate stigma in the context of women living with HCV using Rodgers' evolutionary method. METHODS: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, PsycINFO, and Nursing and Allied Health were used to identify articles describing HCV stigma among women. Articles from peer-reviewed journals and geographic locations, published between 2002-2023, were included in the analysis. As specified in Rodgers' evolutionary method, articles were analyzed with a focus on the concept's context, surrogate and related terms, antecedents, attributes, examples, and consequences. RESULTS: Following screening, 33 articles were selected for inclusion in the analysis. Discrimination and marginalization were identified as surrogate and related terms to stigma; and antecedents of stigma were identified as limited knowledge, fear of diagnosis, and disclosure. Prevalent attributes of stigma in the literature were described as feelings of decreased self-worth, negative stereotyping, and fear of transmission. Importantly, HCV stigma among women is unique in comparison to other forms of infectious disease-related stigma, primarily due its impact on women's identity as mothers and caregivers. Stigmatization of women living with HCV resulted in negative consequences to personal relationships and healthcare access due to decreased health-seeking behaviours. Although access to HCV treatment has changed considerably over time, a temporal analysis could not be completed due to the limited number of articles. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma in the context of women living with HCV has its own unique antecedents, attributes, and consequences. This enhanced understanding of stigma among women living with HCV has the potential to inform improved and more effective approaches to care, which will be required to reach HCV elimination. Furthermore, this analysis identifies stigma layering and stigma in the direct-acting antiviral  treatment era as areas for more in-depth future inquiry.

The influence of ageism on the hallmarks of aging: Where age stigma and biology collide.

Ageism encompasses the creation of negative stereotypes of aging that culminate in the development of prejudicial thoughts and discriminatory actions against people in advanced age. Stereotypes refer to major characteristics, overgeneralized, not supported by observations, that are created to categorize, simplify, and combine complex characteristics, attributes, and behaviors shared by members of a group into more simplistic categories. Negative aging stereotypes include the assumption that old people are weak, reminiscent, sick, and tired, to quote a few. In early age, these views may generate intergenerational conflicts between young and old people, but they seem to have little effect on other aspects of life. However, in middle-aged and older adults, the presence of negative-self stereotypes of aging are significantly associated with several health parameters, including walking speed, cognitive function, mental health problems, and accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Furthermore, observational studies found that ageism might be associated with cardiovascular events, obesity, dementia, and death. These harmful effects are possibly mediated by the interaction between ageism and fundamental mechanisms of aging, mainly inflammation. Given the clinical implications of this relationship, the present manuscript provides a critical review of the available literature that examined associations between ageism and health parameters. We also discuss the main possible mechanisms underlying this association, the main limitations of the current literature, candidate strategies to counteract ageism, and directions to future studies. Finally, we provide a critical opinion of the current scenario and its potential adaptability to the clinical practice.

Investigating the relationship between stereotyping and creativity during marketing campaigns in marketeers and audiences.

Stereotyping others in a creative process may negatively affect creative output, yet there is currently scant empirical evidence of a link between stereotyping and creativity; here, we explore this link in marketing communications. In a quasi-experiment, we introduced a novel intervention to disrupt marketeers' dependency on stereotypes and boost their creativity. The intervention decreased marketeers' use of stereotypes when selecting consumer labels-descriptive labels of a typical consumer based on consumer information-while enhancing the creativity of ideas. In another set of online experiments, we asked British residents to rate the creativity of advertisements and purchase intentions toward advertising products with different levels of stereotypical depictions of people. We found a linear relationship between the stereotypical depictions of people in advertisements and perceived creativity. We also observed a potential U-shaped relationship between stereotypical representations of people in advertisements and purchase intention, such that advertisements with low and high stereotypical representations induced greater purchase intention than did those with medium stereotypical representations. Finally, we discuss the psychological mechanisms that potentially link stereotyping and creativity and the implications for marketing communications.

Originalarbeiten / Original Article. Chancen und Risiken genderstereotyper Ansprache von Männern im Kontext der Bildungs- und Beratungsarbeit am Beispiel der Geburtsvorbereitung für werdende Väter / Opportunities and Risks of Gender-Stereotypical Approach to Men in the Context of Education and Counselling Work Using the Example of Birth Preparation for Expectant Fathers.

Opportunities and Risks of Gender-Stereotypical Approach to Men in the Context of Education and Counselling Work Using the Example of Birth Preparation for Expectant Fathers At first glance, it seems absurd that families or mothers and fathers become addressees of social work when they decide to have a child. But the legislator has also formulated it: "Mothers and fathers as well as pregnant women and expectant fathers should be offered advice and help in questions of partnership and the development of parental parenting and relationship skills" (§16 paragraph 3 SGB VIII). One can argue that this makes sense, especially in complex and challenging times. Fathers in particular are confronted with an increasing ambivalence between caring father and providing breadwinner. Against the background of crisis-ridden conditions, this ambivalence can be perceived as strenuous living conditions, so that the addressing of social work is justified. Gender-homogeneous psychosocial services for fathersto- be make counselling and educational processes in the sense of helping them to help themselves be used by the addressees. In this article, the gender-stereotypical addressing of men in the context of education and counselling services is presented and discussed using the example of gender-homogeneous birth preparation courses for expectant fathers, on the basis of empirical findings.

Racial stereotype and Black adolescents' math achievement: Unpacking the socio-cognitive mechanisms.

Racial stereotypes are salient to Black adolescents and to the academic domain of mathematics; however, few studies have examined the socio-cognitive mechanisms through which racial stereotypes impact math achievement. This 2-year longitudinal study (N = 790 Grade 6, 8, and 10 students during Year 1; 50.7% girls and 49.3% boys) investigated (a) the extent to which the endorsement of positively and negatively biased racial stereotypes predicted Black adolescents' math performance through their cognitive engagement and ability mindset and (b) whether gender and ethnic-racial identity moderated these links. Results suggested that endorsement of negatively biased stereotypes was associated with diminished cognitive engagement and lower math scores across 2 years (p < .05). Additionally, adolescents' ethnic-racial identity commitment moderated the negative links between stereotype endorsement and math cognitive engagement in Year 2 (p < .05). When considering the mediating role of math ability mindsets, the endorsement of both positively and negatively biased racial stereotypes operated on math performance via its links to stronger fixed ability mindset beliefs in both years (p < .05). Gender also moderated the effects of racial stereotype endorsement on math mindset beliefs in Year 1 (p < .01). This study's findings advance the field's understanding of the psychosocial mechanisms through which racial stereotypes operate, thus enabling educators to develop tailored practices that facilitate equitable access to math learning opportunities.

The identity group as a source of social influence for individuals with concealable stigmatized identities.

Many people who are stigmatized along concealable features (e.g., sexual minorities or people with mental illness) anticipate social rejection due to their features and associated labels, and these beliefs are a prominent predictor of psychological distress. While ecological approaches to stigma research have highlighted the social basis of these two related outcomes, it typically has focused on the impact of non-stigmatized counterparts. Also embedded in the social environment are similarly-stigmatized others who, in concealing, may be less accessible to the individual. Given the centrality of psychological distress and rejection concerns as a relational self-conception in attachment theories, we tested if identity-based rejection sensitivity and distress may emerge from diminished access to similarly-stigmatized others as identity group members. Leveraging the University as a partially-controlled, naturalistic setting, we collected measures of concealment, identity-based rejection sensitivity, and psychological distress from undergraduate students in introductory psychology courses who reported a concealable stigmatized identity (N = 355; k = 15 identity groups). With concealment aggregated to the level of the identity group, multi-level modeling showed that concealment by similarly-stigmatized students was positively associated with both individuals' identity-based rejection sensitivity and their psychological distress. Moreover, rejection sensitivity mediated the association of group-level concealment and distress. Findings suggest that rejection concerns and distress may emerge from identity group inaccessibility in the social environment, with the association of concerns and distress possibly contextualized by underlying group attachment dynamics. Results reveal the identity group as a novel source of social influence in the lives of individuals with concealable stigmatized identities.

Analysis of care and gender stereotypes in nursing scientific research: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To map evidence about care and gender stereotypes in nursing scientific research. METHOD: A scoping review developed under the JBI framework with analysis of gender perspective in care approaches. The searches were carried out on January 31, 2023 in SciELO, Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, BDENF. RESULTS: Of the 3,743 studies located, 25 were included. Evidence was grouped into categories: essentially female care (n = 9; 36%); calling and service of love (n = 3; 12%); erasure of gender inequalities (n = 2; 8%); "inadequate and harmful" care (n = 5; 20%); neutralization of gender and bodies (n = 3; 12%); and reporting oppression in care work (n = 3; 12%). CONCLUSION: Most scientific research on care reproduces gender stereotypes that reinforce the oppression of women in nursing. In contrast, resistance denounces naturalization of care as "inadequate and harmful", for perpetuating gender oppression in care work.

Gender-related stigma toward individuals with a history of sexual or physical violence in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Stigma is a key barrier to disclosing traumatic experiences of violence in childhood with adverse consequences for help-seeking behaviour. Disclosing behavior differs by gender and the form of violence experienced. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies that address societal perceptions of males and females with a history of sexual or physical violence in childhood. Therefore, our aim is to focus on the impact of gender on the perception of individuals who experienced sexual or physical violence in childhood. METHODS: We conducted a study on a representative sample of the German general population in terms of age and gender. Participants were randomly assigned to brief case vignettes addressing sexual or physical violence in childhood. Analyses base on a sample of n = 659 individuals (50.1% female). Stigma was assessed through examining respondents' readiness to address specific traumas in conversation and respondents' attitudes toward the individuals in the vignettes. Mann-Whitney U tests were applied to check for differences between female and male victims and survivors as well as female and male respondents. RESULTS: Our results reveal that male victims and survivors face higher negative stereotypes (harm, unpredictability) and evoke communication barriers more often when compared to female victims and survivors, especially in male respondents. Sexual violence is associated with more distinct gender differences than physical violence. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reflect greater stigma toward male victims and survivors of sexual violence than female ones. Men had a greater tendency to stigmatize - especially toward their same-gender peers. Socially ingrained gender roles may act as a basis for different communication cultures and the notion of victim-perpetrator constellations in which males are not envisaged as victims.