Social stigma, internalised shame and psychological struggles in adopted adolescents: A mediated model

This study investigated the psychosocial impact of perceived social stigma on adopted adolescents in Peshawar, Pakistan, focusing on emotional regulation difficulties, identity confusion and internalised shame. Grounded in Goffman’s stigma theory and Erikson’s theory of identity development, the research examined how stigmatising societal attitudes influence adolescents aware of their adoptive status. A total of 709 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, who had lived with their adoptive families for at least three years and were enrolled in formal education, completed structured questionnaires with newly developed and validated scales measuring stigma, shame, identity confusion and emotional regulation. Using structural equation modelling, findings revealed that perceived social stigma significantly predicted internalised shame, emotional regulation difficulties and identity confusion. Internalised shame acted as a key psychological mechanism in these associations. Adolescents who felt stigmatised were more likely to internalise this negativity as shame, which in turn heightened their struggles with emotional regulation and identity development. These results highlight the psychological toll of stigmatisation on adopted youth and underscore the critical role of shame in shaping their development. The findings provide insights for educators, psychologists and social workers in supporting adopted adolescents and suggest the need for stigma reduction efforts in educational and social settings.