title: An Exploratory Investigation of Social Stigma and Concealment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a preliminary investigation into dimensions of stigma and their relation to disease concealment in a sample of American adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three adults with MS in the United States completed an online survey assessing anticipated, internalized, and isolation stigma, as well as concealment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses to all the scales were relatively low, on average, but above scale minimums (P < .001). Ratings of isolation stigma and concealment were highest. Anticipated stigma strongly predicted concealment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many adults living with MS may be concerned that they will be the target of social stigma because of their illness. These concerns are associated with disease concealment. More research is needed to investigate how MS stigma and concealment may be independent contributors to health in patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA (JEC); Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (ALG); and Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK (GS).
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA (JEC); Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (ALG); and Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK (GS).
authors.forename: Adriana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Germano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA (JEC); Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (ALG); and Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK (GS).
authors.forename: Gertraud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stadler