The relationship between internalized stigma, self-esteem, hope and depression in children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Stigmatization is defined as, the person's loss of dignity, to be seen as defective and the general deterioration and exclusion. The internalization of this social stigma is defined as internalized stigmatization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between internalized stigmatization and variables such as self-esteem, hope, depression and treatment compliance in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. This research consists of two studies. In the first study, Internalized Stigma Scale for Children and Adolescents was developed. In the second study, Internalized Stigma Scale for Children and Adolescents, Demographic Information Form, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Scale, Children's Hope Scale and Children's Depression Scale were used to understand the relationship between these variables. This study is one of the first studies examining internalized stigmatization in children with ADHD. Within the scope of the first phase of this study, Internalized Stigma Scale for Children and Adolescents has been developed and brought into literature. Internalized Stigma Scale for Children and Adolescents' reliability and validity coefficients have been examined and was concluded to be suitable for use on Turkish children and adolescents. In the second phase of this thesis, the relationship between self-esteem, hope and depression was investigated by using the Internalized Stigma Scale for Children and Adolescents. As a result of this study, internalized stigmatization of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD was found to be negatively and significantly related to self-esteem and hope. In addition, self-esteem of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD was found to be positively and significantly correlated with hope. Finally, it was found that hope levels of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD were negatively correlated with depression.