Mapping the structure of internalized ableism: psychometric network analysis comparing cisgender and TGNB disabled samples

Background/Purpose Internalized ableism is internalization of negative societal attitudes, stereotypes, and beliefs about disability by disabled people. Little is known about how its subcomponents operate within a dynamic psychological system or whether these structures differ for cisgender versus transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) disabled adults. This study applied psychometric network analysis (PNA) to (a) model the interconnections among internalized ableism subcomponents and (b) compare network structures between cisgender and TGNB disabled groups.Method Participants were 361 cisgender and 337 TGNB disabled adults who completed an online survey. Group differences in subscale means were tested using independent-samples t-tests. PNA with EBICglasso regularization estimated networks of partial correlations among the eight subcomponents in each group. Stability was examined via bootstrapping. A Network Comparison Test evaluated differences in network structure and global strength. Spearman correlations assessed similarity in edge weights and centrality rankings.Results Cisgender participants reported higher total internalized ableism and higher levels on several subcomponents, including Stereotype Endorsement (d = 0.48). Network invariance testing indicated no significant differences in overall structure or global strength between groups. In both networks, Impact on Aspirational Roles and Isolation Due to Shame and Embarrassment emerged as the most central components, though their relative prominence differed by group. Strong, consistent connections included links between Aspirational Roles and Concerns about Romance, and between Denial of Disability and Shame/Embarrassment. There were stronger links between Negative Self-Perception and Perceived Burdensomeness among TGNB participants.Conclusions Internalized ableism operates through a stable system of interconnected psychological processes across gender identities, with aspirational impacts and shame-related isolation playing central roles for both cisgender and TGNB disabled adults. TGNB participants showed lower overall internalized ableism, possibly reflecting protective community or identity factors. Mapping these networks provides clinically relevant targets for intervention, including addressing aspirational barriers, stigma-related self-isolation, and stereotype-related beliefs.