{
  "abstract": "Self-stigma is a significant barrier to help-seeking among survivors of childhood maltreatment (CM). Although context, including cultural context, shapes the way stigma-related beliefs are experienced and translated into help-seeking intentions, most evidence derives from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries/cultures. This multi-national study examined cross-national differences in self-stigma dimensions and help-seeking intentions among CM survivors spanning both WEIRD (United States, Sweden, Switzerland) and non-WEIRD (Japan, South Africa, Türkiye) countries. Young adults with a retrospectively self-reported history of CM ( N = 2,691) completed online self-report measures assessing self-stigma dimensions (alienation, stereotype endorsement, secrecy, and perceived recovery) and help-seeking intentions. Group (WEIRD vs. non-WEIRD) differences were examined using ANCOVAs controlling for age, gender, education, subjective social status, and extent of CM exposure. Pearson correlations assessed associations among stigma-related constructs and help-seeking intentions at both group (regional; WEIRD vs. non-WEIRD) and country levels. Participants from non-WEIRD countries reported lower alienation alongside higher secrecy, perceived recovery, and help-seeking intentions compared to participants from WEIRD countries. Stereotype endorsement did not differ between groups. Correlational patterns among stigma-related constructs were broadly similar across contexts, but associations were descriptively stronger and more interlinked in WEIRD countries. Country-level analyses revealed substantial mean-level variation across countries. Self-stigma-related patterns among CM survivors varied descriptively across countries, with differing configurations of stigma-related dimensions observed across contexts. These findings underscore the importance of moving beyond WEIRD-centric models and support culturally sensitive approaches to stigma reduction and help-seeking promotion.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 15,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Shilat Haim-Nachum",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4461-5771"
    },
    {
      "name": "Monique C. Pfaltz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4030-4514"
    },
    {
      "name": "Billy Jansson",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1508-9621"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chana T. Fisch"
    },
    {
      "name": "Görkem Ayas",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1469-5750"
    },
    {
      "name": "Vedat Şar",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5392-9644"
    },
    {
      "name": "Amit Lazarov",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2811-2739"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stefanie Rita Balle"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dan Jenkins"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yaron Sela"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fatima Ahmed"
    },
    {
      "name": "Soraya Seedat"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ulrich Schnyder",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3556-7990"
    },
    {
      "name": "Misari Oe",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4550-036X"
    },
    {
      "name": "Doron Amsalem"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/07fwctsetwa1f.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-76467-z",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "07fwctsetwa1f",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76467-z",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3203|Child Abuse and Trauma"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223364140",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76467-z_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/07fwctsetwa1f.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-76467-z",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76467-z"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:3203|Child Abuse and Trauma",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Differences in self-stigma and help-seeking among individuals reporting a history of childhood maltreatment: a multi-country study",
  "title_text": "Differences in self-stigma and help-seeking among individuals reporting a history of childhood maltreatment: a multi-country study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/07fwctsetwa1f",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}