Navigating Research Trends in Support and Stigma: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Research Agenda
Abstract
Aim and Scope: Stigma has changed and evolved over time with the progress of knowledge and humanity. The negative outcomes of stigma, such as social isolation, exclusion, poor treatment adherence, and limited access to healthcare services, have garnered interest among research communities. The complex nature of stigma as a socially constructed phenomenon and its continuous evolution raises the need to track changes and fit future interventions. Methods: We synthesize extant research on stigma and support through a bibliometric analysis of 257 articles investigating the stigma phenomenon. The study contributes to a comprehensive understanding and helps the translation of research findings into action to drive social change and evidence-based policies. Findings: Our analysis revealed a growing interest in the domain in recent years. The results show six main directions of research: (1) stigma as a barrier, (2) cultural contexts of stigma, (3) perceived stigma and coping strategies, (4) stories of experiences of stigma, (5) action to mitigate stigma, and (6) community stigma. Conclusions: This study has theoretical and practical implications, in highlighting the multidimensionality of stigma and the need for multi-level policies to raise awareness among communities.
Downloads
Metrics
PlumX Statistics
References
2. Alhomaizi, D., Alsaidi, S., Moalie, A., Muradwij, N., Borba, C. P. C., & Lincoln, A. K. (2018). ‘An exploration of the help-seeking behaviors of Arab-Muslims in the US: A socio-ecological approach’, Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 12/1. Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library.
3. Alsabah, T., & Vittrup, B. (2017). ‘The negative effects of insufficient support Systems on Kuwaiti mothers of children with disabilities’, Digest of Middle East Studies, 26/2: 422–41. Wiley Online Library.
4. Arend, E. D. (2005). ‘The politics of invisibility: homophobia and low-income HIV-positive women who have sex with women’, Journal of Homosexuality, 49/1: 97–122. Taylor & Francis.
5. Barry, M. C., Threats, M., Blackburn, N. A., LeGrand, S., Dong, W., Pulley, D. V, Sallabank, G., et al. (2018). ‘“Stay strong! keep ya head up! move on! it gets better!!!!”: resilience processes in the healthMpowerment online intervention of young black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men’, AIDS care, 30/sup5: S27–38. Taylor & Francis.
6. Becker, K. L. (2013). ‘Cyberhugs: creating a voice for chronic pain sufferers through technology’, Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16/2: 123–6. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, 3rd Floor New Rochelle, NY 10801 USA.
7. Bilgrei, O. R. (2019). ‘Community‐consumerism: negotiating risk in online drug communities’, Sociology of health & illness, 41/5: 852–66. Wiley Online Library.
8. Borrás, S., & Schwaag Serger, S. (2022). ‘The design of transformative research and innovation policy instruments for grand challenges: The policy-nesting perspective’, Science and Public Policy, 49/5: 659–72. Oxford University Press UK.
9. Bos, A. E. R., Pryor, J. B., Reeder, G. D., & Stutterheim, S. E. (2013). ‘Stigma: Advances in theory and research’, Basic and applied social psychology, 35/1: 1–9. Taylor & Francis.
10. Breet, E., Kagee, A., & Seedat, S. (2014). ‘HIV-related stigma and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in HIV-infected individuals: does social support play a mediating or moderating role?’, AIDS care, 26/8: 947–51. Taylor & Francis.
11. Brennan, L., Voros, J., & Brady, E. (2011). Paradigms at play and implications for validity in social marketing research. Journal of Social Marketing, 1(2), 100-119.
12. Broady, T. R., Stoyles, G. J., & Morse, C. (2017). ‘Understanding carers’ lived experience of stigma: The voice of families with a child on the autism spectrum’, Health & social care in the community, 25/1: 224–33. Wiley Online Library.
13. Busza, J., Simms, V., Dziva Chikwari, C., Dauya, E., Bandason, T., Makamba, M., McHugh, G., et al. (2018). ‘“It is not possible to go inside and have a discussion”: how fear of stigma affects delivery of community-based support for children’s HIV care’, AIDS care, 30/7: 903–9. Taylor & Francis.
14. Cardon, A., & Marshall, T. (2021). ‘To raise a child with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative, comparative study of parental experiences in the United States and Senegal’, Transcultural Psychiatry, 58/3: 335–50. SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England.
15. Chan, R. C. H., & Mak, W. W. S. (2019). ‘Cognitive, regulatory, and interpersonal mechanisms of HIV stigma on the mental and social health of men who have sex with men living with HIV’, American Journal of Men’s Health, 13/5: 1557988319873778. Sage Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
16. Chang, P. F., & Bazarova, N. N. (2016). ‘Managing stigma: Disclosure-response communication patterns in pro-anorexic websites’, Health Communication, 31/2: 217–29. Taylor & Francis.
17. Chen, X., Xu, J., Chen, Y., Wu, R., Ji, H., Pan, Y., Duan, Y., et al. (2021). ‘The relationship among social support, experienced stigma, psychological distress, and quality of life among tuberculosis patients in China’, Scientific Reports, 11/1: 24236. Nature Publishing Group UK London.
18. Chong, E. S. K., Zhang, Y., Mak, W. W. S., & Pang, I. H. Y. (2015). ‘Social media as social capital of LGB individuals in Hong Kong: Its relations with group membership, stigma, and mental well-being’, American journal of community psychology, 55: 228–38. Springer.
19. Clarke, C. L., Wilcockson, J., Watson, J., Wilkinson, H., Keyes, S., Kinnaird, L., & Williamson, T. (2020). ‘Relational care and co-operative endeavour–Reshaping dementia care through participatory secondary data analysis’, Dementia, 19/4: 1151–72. SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England.
20. Cluver, L., & Orkin, M. (2009). ‘Cumulative risk and AIDS-orphanhood: Interactions of stigma, bullying and poverty on child mental health in South Africa’, Social science & medicine, 69/8: 1186–93. Elsevier.
21. Coleman, H., Peterson, C. L., & Walker, C. (2022). ‘Understanding the experiences of stigma in relation to social support among an Australian community cohort of people living with epilepsy’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 57/4: 920–37. Wiley Online Library.
22. Craig, S. L., Austin, A., & Alessi, E. (2013). ‘Gay affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy for sexual minority youth: A clinical adaptation’, Clinical Social Work Journal, 41: 258–66. Springer.
23. Denhart, H. (2008). ‘Deconstructing barriers: Perceptions of students labeled with learning disabilities in higher education’, Journal of learning disabilities, 41/6: 483–97. Sage Publications Sage UK: London, England.
24. Donovan, R., & Henley, N. (2010). Social marketing and social change. In Principles and practice of social marketing: an international perspective. 1–22. Cambridge University Press.
25. Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021). ‘How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines’, Journal of Business Research, 133: 285–96. Elsevier.
26. Earnshaw, V. A., Watson, R. J., Eaton, L. A., Brousseau, N. M., Laurenceau, J.-P., & Fox, A. B. (2022). ‘Integrating time into stigma and health research’, Nature Reviews Psychology, 1/4: 236–47. DOI: 10.1038/s44159-022-00034-2
27. van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2014). Visualizing Bibliometric Networks. Measuring Scholarly Impact. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-10377-8_13
28. Elliott, G. C., Ziegler, H. L., Altman, B. M., & Scott, D. R. (1982). ‘Understanding stigma: Dimensions of deviance and coping’, Deviant Behavior, 3/3: 275–300. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/01639625.1982.9967590
29. Elsevier. (2020). ‘Content Coverage Guide’, 1–24.
30. Gaur, A., & Kumar, M. (2018). ‘A systematic approach to conducting review studies: An assessment of content analysis in 25 years of IB research’, Journal of World Business, 53/2: 280–9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2017.11.003
31. Goffman, E. (1963). ‘Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity’, New York: Simon & Shuster.
32. Goffman, E. (1997). ‘Selections from stigma’, The disability studies reader, 203: 215. Routledge New York.
33. Grier, S., & Bryant, C. A. (2005). Social marketing in public health. Annual review of public health, 26(1), 319-339.
34. Gul, M., & Aqeel, M. (2021). ‘Acceptance and commitment therapy for treatment of stigma and shame in substance use disorders: a double-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial’, Journal of Substance Use, 26/4: 413–9. Taylor & Francis.
35. Haas, S. M., Irr, M. E., Jennings, N. A., & Wagner, L. M. (2011). ‘Communicating thin: A grounded model of online negative enabling support groups in the pro-anorexia movement’, new media & society, 13/1: 40–57. SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England.
36. Hatzenbuehler, M. L., & Link, B. G. (2014). ‘Introduction to the special issue on structural stigma and health.’, Social Science & Medicine. Elsevier Science.
37. Heijnders, M., & Van Der Meij, S. (2006). ‘The fight against stigma: an overview of stigma-reduction strategies and interventions’, Psychology, health & medicine, 11/3: 353–63. Taylor & Francis.
38. Hermaszewska, S., Sweeney, A., & Sin, J. (2022). ‘Time to change course in stigma research?’. Journal of Mental Health. Taylor & Francis.
39. Heslin, K. C., Singzon, T., Aimiuwu, O., Sheridan, D., & Hamilton, A. (2012). ‘From personal tragedy to personal challenge: Responses to stigma among sober living home residents and operators’, Sociology of health & illness, 34/3: 379–95. Wiley Online Library.
40. Ikizer, E. G., Ramírez-Esparza, N., & Quinn, D. M. (2018). ‘Culture and concealable stigmatized identities: Examining anticipated stigma in the United States and Turkey.’, Stigma and Health, 3/2: 152. Educational Publishing Foundation.
41. Kessler, M. M. (1963). ‘Bibliographic coupling between scientific papers’, American documentation, 14/1: 10–25. Wiley Online Library.
42. Khvorostyanov, N., & Yeshua-Katz, D. (2020). ‘Bad, pathetic and greedy women: Expressions of surrogate motherhood stigma in a Russian online forum’, Sex Roles, 83/7–8: 474–84. Springer.
43. King, R. A., Racherla, P., & Bush, V. D. (2014). ‘What we know and don’t know about online word-of-mouth: A review and synthesis of the literature’, Journal of interactive marketing, 28/3: 167–83. SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
44. Kirkwood, A. D., & Stamm, B. H. (2006). A social marketing approach to challenging stigma. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37(5), 472.
45. Körner, H. (2007). ‘Negotiating cultures: Disclosure of HIV‐positive status among people from minority ethnic communities in Sydney’, Culture, Health & Sexuality, 9/2: 137–52. Taylor & Francis.
46. Van Leeuwen, T. (2004). ‘Descriptive versus evaluative bibliometrics’. Handbook of quantitative science and technology research, pp. 373–88. Springer.
47. Leyser, Y., & Dekel, G. (1991). ‘Perceived stress and adjustment in religious Jewish families with a child who is disabled’, The Journal of psychology, 125/4: 427–38. Taylor & Francis.
48. Lin, C.-Y., & Tsang, H. W. H. (2020). ‘Stigma, health and well-being’. International journal of environmental research and public health. MDPI.
49. Lin, X., Zhao, G., Li, X., Stanton, B., Zhang, L., Hong, Y., Zhao, J., et al. (2010). ‘Perceived HIV stigma among children in a high HIV-prevalence area in central China: beyond the parental HIV-related illness and death’, AIDS care, 22/5: 545–55. Taylor & Francis.
50. Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). ‘Conceptualizing Stigma’, Annual Review of Sociology, 27/1: 363–85. Annual Reviews. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.363
51. Linnenluecke, M. K., Marrone, M., & Singh, A. K. (2020). ‘Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses’, Australian Journal of Management, 45/2: 175–94. SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England.
52. De Luca, S. M., Blosnich, J. R., Hentschel, E. A. W., King, E., & Amen, S. (2016). ‘Mental health care utilization: How race, ethnicity and veteran status are associated with seeking help’, Community Mental Health Journal, 52: 174–9. Springer.
53. Lyons, B., & Dolezal, L. (2017). ‘Shame, stigma and medicine’, Medical humanities, 43/4: 208–10. Institute of Medical Ethics.
54. Makris, A., Khaliq, M., & Perkins, E. (2021). A scoping review of behavior change interventions to decrease health care disparities for patients with disabilities in a primary care setting: Can social marketing play a role? Social Marketing Quarterly, 27(1), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524500421992135
55. Matson-Barkat, S., Puncheva-Michelotti, P., Koetz, C., & Hennekam, S. (2022). ‘Destigmatisation through social sharing of emotions and empowerment: The case of disabled athletes and consumers of disability sports’, Journal of Business Research, 149: 77–84. Elsevier.
56. McGill, E., Er, V., Penney, T., Egan, M., White, M., Meier, P., Whitehead, M., et al. (2021). ‘Evaluation of public health interventions from a complex systems perspective: a research methods review’, Social Science & Medicine, 272: 113697. Elsevier.
57. Mikołajczak, G., Brown, G., Power, J., Lyons, A., Howard, C., & Drummond, F. (2022). ‘Social determinants of quality of life among PLHIV in Australia: implications for health promotion’, Health Promotion International, 37/1: daab029. Oxford University Press.
58. Mirabito, A. M., Otnes, C. C., Crosby, E., Wooten, D. B., Machin, J. E., Pullig, C., Adkins, N. R., et al. (2016). ‘The stigma turbine: A theoretical framework for conceptualizing and contextualizing marketplace stigma’, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 35/2: 170–84. SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
59. Mukumbang, F. C. (2021). ‘Leaving no man behind: how differentiated service delivery models increase men’s engagement in HIV care’, International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 10/3: 129. Kerman University of Medical Sciences.
60. Munro, M., Cook, A. M., & Bogart, K. R. (2022). ‘An inductive qualitative content analysis of stigma experienced by people with rare diseases’, Psychology and Health, 37/8: 948–63. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1912344
61. Ndichu, E. G., & Rittenburg, T. L. (2021). ‘Consumers’ navigation of risk perceptions in the adoption of stigmatized products’, Journal of Business Research, 132: 340–53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.03.057
62. Olafsdottir, S., & Pescosolido, B. A. (2011). ‘Constructing illness: How the public in eight Western nations respond to a clinical description of “schizophrenia”’, Social Science & Medicine, 73/6: 929–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.06.029
63. Ozanne, J. L., Davis, B., Murray, J. B., Grier, S., Benmecheddal, A., Downey, H., Ekpo, A. E., et al. (2017). ‘Assessing the societal impact of research: The relational engagement approach’, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 36/1: 1–14. SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
64. Pantelic, M., Boyes, M., Cluver, L., & Thabeng, M. (2018). ‘“They say HIV is a punishment from god or from ancestors”: cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric assessment of an HIV stigma scale for South African adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV-SS)’, Child indicators research, 11/1: 207–23. Springer.
65. Pardo, G., Saisaengjan, C., Gopalan, P., Ananworanich, J., Lakhonpon, S., Nestadt, D. F., Bunupuradah, T., et al. (2017). ‘Cultural adaptation of an evidence-informed psychosocial intervention to address the needs of PHIV+ youth in Thailand’, Global Social Welfare, 4: 209–18. Springer.
66. Pescosolido, B. A., & Martin, J. K. (2015). ‘The stigma complex’, Annual review of sociology, 41: 87–116. Annual Reviews.
67. Pflum, S. R., Testa, R. J., Balsam, K. F., Goldblum, P. B., & Bongar, B. (2015). ‘Social support, trans community connectedness, and mental health symptoms among transgender and gender nonconforming adults.’, Psychology of sexual orientation and gender diversity, 2/3: 281. Educational Publishing Foundation.
68. Rao, D., Elshafei, A., Nguyen, M., Hatzenbuehler, M. L., Frey, S., & Go, V. F. (2019). ‘A systematic review of multi-level stigma interventions: state of the science and future directions’, BMC medicine, 17/1: 1–11. BioMed Central.
69. Scambler, G. (2009). ‘Health‐related stigma’, Sociology of health & illness, 31/3: 441–55. Wiley Online Library.
70. Smith, K. E. (2014). ‘The politics of ideas: The complex interplay of health inequalities research and policy’, Science and Public Policy, 41/5: 561–74. Oxford University Press.
71. Stangl, A. L., Earnshaw, V. A., Logie, C. H., van Brakel, W., C. Simbayi, L., Barré, I., & Dovidio, J. F. (2019). ‘The Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework: a global, crosscutting framework to inform research, intervention development, and policy on health-related stigmas’, BMC Medicine, 17/1: 31. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1271-3
72. Stutterheim, S. E., Kuijpers, K. J. R., Waldén, M. I., Finkenflügel, R. N. N., Brokx, P. A. R., & Bos, A. E. R. (2022). ‘Trends in HIV stigma experienced by people living with HIV in the Netherlands: A comparison of cross-sectional surveys over time’, AIDS Education and Prevention, 34/1: 33–52. Guilford Press.
73. Tomori, C., Kennedy, C. E., Brahmbhatt, H., Wagman, J. A., Mbwambo, J. K., Likindikoki, S., & Kerrigan, D. L. (2014). ‘Barriers and facilitators of retention in HIV care and treatment services in Iringa, Tanzania: the importance of socioeconomic and sociocultural factors’, AIDS care, 26/7: 907–13. Taylor & Francis.
74. Vigilant, L. G., Heitkamp, A., & Heitkamp, A. (2022). ‘“If it Does Turn out to be Herpes, Try not to Stress Too Much”: The Contours of Emotional Support and Peer Diagnosis in an Online Sexual Health Community’, Sociological Inquiry, 92/1: 200–24. Wiley Online Library.
75. Vlassoff, C., Weiss, M. G., & Rao, S. (2013). ‘A question module for assessing community stigma towards HIV in rural India’, Journal of biosocial science, 45/3: 359–74. Cambridge University Press.
76. Wehrens, R., Bekker, M., & Bal, R. (2011). ‘Coordination of research, policy and practice: a case study of collaboration in the field of public health’, Science and Public Policy, 38/10: 755–66. Beech Tree Publishing.
77. Yeh, M. A., Jewell, R. D., & Thomas, V. L. (2017). ‘The stigma of mental illness: Using segmentation for social change’, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 36/1: 97–116. SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
78. Zigron, S., & Bronstein, J. (2019). ‘“Help is where you find it”: The role of weak ties networks as sources of information and support in virtual health communities’, Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 70/2: 130–9. Wiley Online Library.
Copyright (c) 2025 Johana Hajdini, Taskın Dirsehan, Lea Iaia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.