Longitudinal perspective of the stigmatization of secondary school dropouts.

HIGH school dropouts; SCHOOL dropouts; YOUNG adults; THEMATIC analysis; PREJUDICES; STUDENT adjustment

This longitudinal study retrospectively explored the stigmatization experienced by 47 young adults in South Korea in early mid‐20s who dropped out of middle or high school. Data were collected at two time points. Using thematic analysis, we categorized their experience of stigma into public and self‐stigma, based on Corrigan and Kosyluk's (2014) social cognitive model of stigma. Each form of stigma is further subdivided into stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. We identified additional factors related to coping with the stigma. Based on the findings, the potential implications of characterizing the stigma experienced by middle and high school dropouts are discussed from a longitudinal perspective. Practitioner points: The dropout rate in Korea has gradually increased every year.Stigmatization of school dropouts has affected students' development and life‐adjustment process over time.Dropout students experienced internalized self‐stigma as a result of being exposed to public stigma from family, acquaintances, and society. However some students prevented them from internalizing the public stigma through coping behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychology in the Schools is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)