Millennials Versus Gen Z: Have Perceptions and Outcomes of Concealable Stigmatized Identities Changed Over Time?

Stigma experiences are robustly connected to poor health outcomes. However, stigma itself is contextually dependent. Comparing recent data (collected in 2022-2023) to a previous data set (collected 2004-2005), we examined changes in cultural and anticipated stigma for 13 concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs). Moreover, we tested if the relationship between anticipated stigma and poor mental health had changed over time. By comparing viewpoints from a single community, a generation apart, we take a historical perspective to investigate if-and for whom-stigma has improved. Results show that both cultural and anticipated stigma have gotten better and that neither are as strongly associated with distress as they once were. These improvements, however, are not enjoyed equally among all identities. Moreover, distress levels have not changed for people with CSIs, indicating that other factors are contributing to poor mental health. Potential reasons for these changes are discussed.