title: Stigma and health literacy: an agenda for advancing research and practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose a framework addressing various factors contributing to stigma associated with low health literacy, how stigma is manifested, and how it may contribute to adverse health consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The framework incorporated concepts found in existing empirical research on stigmatized health conditions with an emphasis on concealable conditions such as mental health, HIV status, and some chronic illnesses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pursuing the proposed research agenda would provide a better understanding of the various factors contributing to stigma associated with low health literacy, how that stigma is manifested, and how it may contribute to adverse health consequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The goal of proposing a wide-ranging research agenda is to encourage research that will inform the development of a comprehensive framework that addresses factors that influence stigma associated with health literacy from multiple levels: micro, meso, and macro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advertising, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. mackert@utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mackert
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mabry
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guadagno
authors.affiliation: Department of Advertising, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stout
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology; D057220:Health Literacy; D006302:Health Services Research; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping