Internalized Stigma in Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder and Their Parents: Associations With Functioning, Help-Seeking, Beliefs, and Social Support

Internalized stigma in adolescents with MDD and their parents is strongly associated with clinical burden and functioning in this clinical, predominantly female sample. Findings underscore internalized stigma as a family-embedded, interconnected process and suggest that integrating family-inclusive, stigma-informed care that strengthens social support may improve youth depression management and treatment engagement.