THE EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL STIGMA ON THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE OF WOMEN

This study is dedicated to an empirical analysis of one of the most pressing issues in modern social psychology: the impact of social stigma on the psycho-emotional health and personal identity of women. The relevance of the work is determined by the need to scientifically substantiate the destructive effects of gender stereotypes and societal expectations regarding the "ideal woman" on the female psyche. During the study, four primary areas of stigmatization were examined in detail: marital status (divorce), reproductive function (infertility), professional activity (gender discrimination), and anthropometric indicators (stigma related to physical appearance). For the empirical analysis, a sample of 450 respondents was studied using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Spielberger-Hanin Anxiety Inventory. The results indicate that social stigma in women forms not only reactive anxiety but also deep internalized (internal) self-stigma. This, in turn, leads to a critical decline in self-esteem, social isolation, and persistent depressive states. Based on the statistical data obtained, recommendations grounded in a cognitive-behavioral approach have been developed for the psychological rehabilitation of stigmatized women and the restoration of their emotional stability.