Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment
Eshetu Girma,1,2 Anne Maria Möller-Leimkühler,2,3 Sandra Dehning,2,3 Norbert Mueller,2,3 Markos Tesfaye,4 Guenter Froeschl2,5 1Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2CIHLMU Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Univ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| Online Access: | http://www.dovepress.com/self-stigma-among-caregivers-of-people-with-mental-illness-toward-care-a15516 |
| _version_ | 1818491569318133760 |
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| author | Girma E Möller-Leimkühler AM Dehning S Mueller N Tesfaye M Froeschl G |
| author_facet | Girma E Möller-Leimkühler AM Dehning S Mueller N Tesfaye M Froeschl G |
| author_sort | Girma E |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eshetu Girma,1,2 Anne Maria Möller-Leimkühler,2,3 Sandra Dehning,2,3 Norbert Mueller,2,3 Markos Tesfaye,4 Guenter Froeschl2,5 1Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2CIHLMU Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany; 3Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany; 4Department of Psychiatry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 5Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany Background: In addition to economic and material burdens, caregivers of people with mental illness are exposed to psychosocial challenges. Self-stigma is among the psychological challenges that can be exacerbated by intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors. Caregivers’ self-stigma can negatively influence the patients' treatment and rehabilitation process. The objective of this study was to measure the level and correlates of self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness. Methods: An interviewer-administered cross-sectional study was conducted in the Jimma University Specialized Hospital Psychiatry Clinic in Ethiopia on a sample of 422 caregivers. Data were collected by trained nurses working in the clinic using a pretested questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression was performed to identify the correlates of self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness. Results: The majority (70.38%) of the caregivers were male. On a scale of 0 to 15, with 0 being low and 15 being high, the average self-stigmatizing attitude score was 4.68 (±4.11). A statistically significant difference in mean self-stigma score was found between urban and rural respondents (t=3.95, P<0.05). Self-stigma of caregivers showed significant positive correlation with perceived signs of mental illness (r=0.18, P<0.001), perceived supernatural explanations of mental illness (r=0.26, P<0.001), and perceived psychosocial and biological explanations of mental illness (r=0.12, P<0.01). The only independent predictor of caregivers' self-stigma was perceived supernatural explanation of mental illness (standardized β=0.22, P<0.001). Conclusion: The tendency of caregivers to avoid being identified with the patients was observed. Low exposure to mental health information was also reported. Caregivers' self-stigma in this study was significantly correlated with perceived supernatural explanation of mental illness. Since caregivers' self-stigma may negatively influence patients' treatment-seeking, adherence, and rehabilitation processes, programs that enhance coping strategies by strengthening self-esteem and empowerment by health care providers and establish family support groups may be helpful to tackle self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness. Keywords: self-stigma, internalized stigma, caregivers, mental illness |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:32:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a131f0b8d1e42d3aaf6154ab83ce83a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:32:45Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a131f0b8d1e42d3aaf6154ab83ce83a2022-12-22T01:39:38ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare1178-23902014-01-012014default374315516Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowermentGirma EMöller-Leimkühler AMDehning SMueller NTesfaye MFroeschl GEshetu Girma,1,2 Anne Maria Möller-Leimkühler,2,3 Sandra Dehning,2,3 Norbert Mueller,2,3 Markos Tesfaye,4 Guenter Froeschl2,5 1Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2CIHLMU Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany; 3Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany; 4Department of Psychiatry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 5Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany Background: In addition to economic and material burdens, caregivers of people with mental illness are exposed to psychosocial challenges. Self-stigma is among the psychological challenges that can be exacerbated by intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors. Caregivers’ self-stigma can negatively influence the patients' treatment and rehabilitation process. The objective of this study was to measure the level and correlates of self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness. Methods: An interviewer-administered cross-sectional study was conducted in the Jimma University Specialized Hospital Psychiatry Clinic in Ethiopia on a sample of 422 caregivers. Data were collected by trained nurses working in the clinic using a pretested questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression was performed to identify the correlates of self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness. Results: The majority (70.38%) of the caregivers were male. On a scale of 0 to 15, with 0 being low and 15 being high, the average self-stigmatizing attitude score was 4.68 (±4.11). A statistically significant difference in mean self-stigma score was found between urban and rural respondents (t=3.95, P<0.05). Self-stigma of caregivers showed significant positive correlation with perceived signs of mental illness (r=0.18, P<0.001), perceived supernatural explanations of mental illness (r=0.26, P<0.001), and perceived psychosocial and biological explanations of mental illness (r=0.12, P<0.01). The only independent predictor of caregivers' self-stigma was perceived supernatural explanation of mental illness (standardized β=0.22, P<0.001). Conclusion: The tendency of caregivers to avoid being identified with the patients was observed. Low exposure to mental health information was also reported. Caregivers' self-stigma in this study was significantly correlated with perceived supernatural explanation of mental illness. Since caregivers' self-stigma may negatively influence patients' treatment-seeking, adherence, and rehabilitation processes, programs that enhance coping strategies by strengthening self-esteem and empowerment by health care providers and establish family support groups may be helpful to tackle self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness. Keywords: self-stigma, internalized stigma, caregivers, mental illnesshttp://www.dovepress.com/self-stigma-among-caregivers-of-people-with-mental-illness-toward-care-a15516 |
| spellingShingle | Girma E Möller-Leimkühler AM Dehning S Mueller N Tesfaye M Froeschl G Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| title | Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment |
| title_full | Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment |
| title_fullStr | Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment |
| title_short | Self-stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness: toward caregivers’ empowerment |
| title_sort | self stigma among caregivers of people with mental illness toward caregivers rsquo empowerment |
| url | http://www.dovepress.com/self-stigma-among-caregivers-of-people-with-mental-illness-toward-care-a15516 |
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