Date of Award
Summer 2025
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Matthew E. Brashears
Abstract
Social networks are critical for accessing health-related resources and shaping mental health outcomes, yet significant gaps remain in understanding how stigma influences network structures and well-being. My dissertation introduces the concept of agentic holes—intentional concealment within social networks—and examines how stigma, multiplexity, and selective disclosure affect social support and psychological distress. A key finding is that stigma extends beyond traditionally marginalized and medicalized groups, affecting individuals across social positions. I differentiate between systemic and nonsystemic stigma, showing that systemic stigma, rooted in structural inequities, has far-reaching social and psychological consequences, while nonsystemic stigma is more context-dependent and does not impact networks or well-being in the same way. Additionally, I found that people of color, who are more likely to experience systemic stigma, had fewer cohesive subgroups of confidants, limiting their access to stigma-related support. My research also highlights the complexity of information management in social networks, showing that individuals both disclose and withhold important matters from the same people. While multiplexity itself was not linked to intentional information gaps, I found that selective disclosure strategies, including deception, can either mitigate or exacerbate psychological distress, depending on the type of stigma. Contrary to existing research, I discovered that concealing nonsystemic stigma may serve as a protective mechanism against psychological distress, while intentional concealment of important matters more generally was associated with lower perceived social support. By employing a three-study approach, my dissertation advances stigma research, social network analysis, and health disparities research by demonstrating how stigma shapes social structures, influences information flow, and affects mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the need for a more nuanced approach to stigma management that considers the type of stigma, the role of deception, and the structure of social networks.
Rights
© 2025, Victoria Lee Money
Recommended Citation
Money, V. L.(2025). Navigating Complex Social Space: Assessing How and When Social Networks Affect Psychological Distress. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8447