Convergent validity was demonstrated through moderate correlations with measures of other stigma-related dimensions such as internalized stigma, internalized shame, and self-concealment. These results suggest that those who perceived higher levels of stigma tended to have higher levels of internalized shame, higher levels of internalized stigma, and more often use self-concealment as a coping method. Contrary to expectations, our measure of ongoing experiences with stigma-related rejection was only slightly related to perceived stigma. Perhaps this is because early experiences with stigma are more influential on perceptions of stigma than current experiences. Another possibility is that those who expect to be the target of stigma may work to conceal their substance use problems and may actually be somewhat successful in reducing direct experiences of rejection. This idea is supported by the fairly high relationship between perceptions of stigma and the use of secrecy as a coping method.
