Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cottrell, Catherine

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Stigma acts as a deterrent to help-seeking and a predictor of treatment discontinuation (Corrigan 2004; Eisenberg, Downs, Golberstein, & Zivin, 2009; Hinshaw & Stier, 2008; Sirey et al., 2001). With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affecting an estimated 5.2% of adults or 16,884,400 individuals in the United States alone, any deterrent to help and treatment should be explored and mitigated (Kessler et al., 2006). This study examined the relationship between stigma and medication use. College students with ADHD (N = 370) responded to a questionnaire examining participants’ perceptions of stigmatizing attitudes towards ADHD and ADHD treatment, as well as participant gender and likelihood of future medication use. Internal medication stigma was negatively correlated to future medication use. Higher scores on perceived stigma measures were correlated with greater likelihood of future medication use. Individuals currently on ADHD medication were significantly more likely to continue use. Likelihood of future medication use was positively correlated with doctor comfort, but negatively correlated with difficulty of medication access. Women scored significantly higher on all measures of perceived stigma and general stigma than men. Men, however, scored higher on internal medication stigma. These results indicate that there needs to be more of a focus on decreasing stigma surrounding ADHD and medication use, as well as a focus on increasing ADHD visibility for women and other marginalized populations.

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