Lighting the Blame: Socioeconomic Status and Lung Cancer Stigma
Location
Bent Corridor, Science Center
Document Type
Poster - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
5-1-2026 2:00 PM
Abstract
Lung cancer is a highly stigmatized illness, and patients often face societal stigma that increases the psychological burden of coping with the disease while limiting access to high-quality social support and allyship within the medical system (Sudts et al., 2024). Stigma associated with smoking, in particular, may serve as a significant barrier to care and compromise health outcomes. This study investigates whether socioeconomic status (SES) contributes to the perpetuation of stigmatized beliefs about individuals with lung cancer. Individuals from lower SES backgrounds are frequently targets of prejudice and are more likely to be perceived as responsible for the adversities they face. Their engagement in behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or gambling is often attributed to a perceived lack of motivation or self-control, reinforcing stigmatizing attitudes. Building on this framework, the present study tests whether smokers of lower SES experience higher levels of lung cancer–related stigma compared to smokers of higher SES.
Keywords:
Smoking, Stigma, Socioeconomic status, Health outcomes
Recommended Citation
Kimble, Maille, "Lighting the Blame: Socioeconomic Status and Lung Cancer Stigma" (2026). Research Symposium. 15.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/posters/15
Major
Psychology; Sociology; Global Health
Project Mentor(s)
Ledina Imami, Psychology
2026
Lighting the Blame: Socioeconomic Status and Lung Cancer Stigma
Bent Corridor, Science Center
Lung cancer is a highly stigmatized illness, and patients often face societal stigma that increases the psychological burden of coping with the disease while limiting access to high-quality social support and allyship within the medical system (Sudts et al., 2024). Stigma associated with smoking, in particular, may serve as a significant barrier to care and compromise health outcomes. This study investigates whether socioeconomic status (SES) contributes to the perpetuation of stigmatized beliefs about individuals with lung cancer. Individuals from lower SES backgrounds are frequently targets of prejudice and are more likely to be perceived as responsible for the adversities they face. Their engagement in behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or gambling is often attributed to a perceived lack of motivation or self-control, reinforcing stigmatizing attitudes. Building on this framework, the present study tests whether smokers of lower SES experience higher levels of lung cancer–related stigma compared to smokers of higher SES.
