Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a stigmatized condition that affects the communicative process. Using Meisenbach’s theory of stigma management communication (SMC), this project demonstrates coping strategies for stigma related to OCD. Research is self-reported in autoethnographic form, where narratives are analyzed in Rambo’s layered account format. There are two results of note: SMC is a suitable framework for understanding OCD stigma, and SMC’s accepting strategies are more effective at managing OCD stigma when the behavior being stigmatized is readily associated with OCD. Furthermore, this thesis suggests autoethnography is an effective medium for showcasing OCD stigma, and also suggests more research on OCD stigma is needed from a communicative perspective.
","abstract_html":"<p>Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a stigmatized condition that affects the communicative process. Using Meisenbach’s theory of stigma management communication (SMC), this project demonstrates coping strategies for stigma related to OCD. Research is self-reported in autoethnographic form, where narratives are analyzed in Rambo’s layered account format. There are two results of note: SMC is a suitable framework for understanding OCD stigma, and SMC’s accepting strategies are more effective at managing OCD stigma when the behavior being stigmatized is readily associated with OCD. Furthermore, this thesis suggests autoethnography is an effective medium for showcasing OCD stigma, and also suggests more research on OCD stigma is needed from a communicative perspective.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Johnson, Nicholas J."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Communication, Media and Theatre Arts","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dennis O’Grady, Ph.D.","Nick Romerhausen, Ph.D.","Sam Shen, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:40Z","subjects":["Communication"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1091","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dennis O’Grady, Ph.D.","Nick Romerhausen, Ph.D.","Sam Shen, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Johnson, Nicholas J."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-10-12T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Communication, Media and Theatre Arts"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Communication"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1091"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a stigmatized condition that affects the communicative process. Using Meisenbach’s theory of stigma management communication (SMC), this project demonstrates coping strategies for stigma related to OCD. Research is self-reported in autoethnographic form, where narratives are analyzed in Rambo’s layered account format. There are two results of note: SMC is a suitable framework for understanding OCD stigma, and SMC’s accepting strategies are more effective at managing OCD stigma when the behavior being stigmatized is readily associated with OCD. Furthermore, this thesis suggests autoethnography is an effective medium for showcasing OCD stigma, and also suggests more research on OCD stigma is needed from a communicative perspective.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Handwashing and beyond: An autoethnographic account of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and stigma management"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dennis O’Grady, Ph.D.","Nick Romerhausen, Ph.D.","Sam Shen, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Johnson, Nicholas J."],"dc:date.available":["2021-10-12T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a stigmatized condition that affects the communicative process. Using Meisenbach’s theory of stigma management communication (SMC), this project demonstrates coping strategies for stigma related to OCD. Research is self-reported in autoethnographic form, where narratives are analyzed in Rambo’s layered account format. There are two results of note: SMC is a suitable framework for understanding OCD stigma, and SMC’s accepting strategies are more effective at managing OCD stigma when the behavior being stigmatized is readily associated with OCD. Furthermore, this thesis suggests autoethnography is an effective medium for showcasing OCD stigma, and also suggests more research on OCD stigma is needed from a communicative perspective.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1091"],"dc:subject":["Communication"],"dc:title":["Handwashing and beyond: An autoethnographic account of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and stigma management"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Communication, Media and Theatre Arts"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:40Z"}