“It just makes you more vulnerable as an employee”: Understanding the effects of disability stigma on employment in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Objective Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the United States, affecting approximately 1 million Americans. However, there is a dearth of research on the employment experiences of individuals with PD. This research article makes a crucial contribution to the literature by examining the role of disability stigma in shaping employment options in PD, with relevance to the experiences of adults with chronic and/or progressive diseases more broadly. Methods The author conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 23 adults under the age of 65 with PD. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The author utilized an integrated approach to analysis, primarily employing a thematic analysis approach. Additionally, a narrative analysis strategy, the Listening Guide, was integrated into the broader thematic analysis to deepen analysis of discrimination and stigma. Results Findings demonstrate how internalized, anticipated and/or experienced disability-related stigma profoundly affects employment experiences, influencing participants’ work outcome expectations and acting as an employment barrier. Discussion Findings have implications for health care practice and education, disability policy, early intervention strategies after the onset of PD and priorities for future research.