Self-Compassion Mediates Stigma for Parents of Transition-Age Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Objective: The current study assessed self-reported self-compassion, courtesy stigma, life satisfaction, and depression among parents of transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). This study tests the hypothesis that self-compassion is a mediator between courtesy stigma and parents' psychosocial adjustment. Method: One hundred parents of transition-age youth with IDDs completed a cross-sectional survey assessing courtesy stigma, self-compassion, life satisfaction, and depression. Study information was disseminated via community organizations, and participants self-selected to participate. "PROCESS" macro with 5,000 bootstrapped samples was used to test self-compassion as a mediator between courtesy stigma and parents' life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale) and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale). Results: Self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between courtesy stigma and caregiver depressive symptoms (effect = .28, CI [.16,.45]). Self-compassion did not mediate the relationship between courtesy stigma and satisfaction with life. Implications: Findings suggest self-compassion could be leveraged to help counter the effects of courtesy stigma on parents. Future research should seek to explore potential differences in these relationships according to cultural factors or by diagnostic group.