Internalised stigma, social support, coping and care‐giving burden among Chinese family caregivers of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia: A parallel mediation analysis

Abstract

Care‐giving burden and internalised stigma are prevalent among family caregivers of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Internalised stigma has been regarded as a source of care‐giving burden. But it remains unclear if high levels of internalised stigma directly contribute to an increased risk of care‐giving burden or if the effects could be buffered by psychological factors. This cross‐sectional study was to investigate the relationship between internalised stigma and care‐giving burden, and to determine the mediating effects of coping styles and social support. Data were collected from 344 Chinese family caregivers of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia in a psychiatric outpatient department of a tertiary hospital in Changsha, Hunan between April and August 2018. A self‐reported questionnaire was used to collect data anonymously. Instruments included the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, the Spearman correlation and regression analysis to estimate direct and indirect effects using bootstrap analysis. Results showed that internalised stigma, social support and passive coping were significant correlates of care‐giving burden; social support partially mediated the relationship between internalised stigma and care‐giving burden; active coping did not show impacts on internalised stigma and care‐giving burden. This study provided social workers and healthcare providers with a better understanding of the development of care‐giving burden. Comprehensive interventions should be designed to provide supportive resources and reduce the possibilities of internalisation of stigma and passive coping, to alleviate care‐giving burden.

Patient’s disability and caregiver burden among Chinese family caregivers of individual living with schizophrenia: mediation effects of potentially harmful behavior, affiliate stigma, and social support

“…And, the relationship between low social support and high caregiver burden and their significant effect on the disease course indicates a vicious cycle that affects patients living with schizophrenia, their family caregivers, and the clinical course of the disease 13,40 . The mediation effect of social support also indicates that when these family caregivers are provided sufficient social support to meet their needs, perceived affiliate stigma of caregivers may be correspondingly decreased, which in turn leads to a reduction in the burden of care 43 .…”

Factors associated with parental burden among parents of children with food allergies in China: a cross-sectional study

“… 23 In addition, coping style refers to an individual’s efforts to change cognition and behaviour to meet specific internal and external environmental requirements beyond their existing capacity and resources. 24 Caregivers with an active coping style could better cope with their problems and thus may reduce the burden of caring for children with FA. 25 However, there is a lack of research exploring the relationship between social support/coping style and parental burden among the parents of children with FA.…”

“…Good social support from family, society and others can reduce an individual’s stress and thus may lower caregivers’ burden 23. In addition, coping style refers to an individual’s efforts to change cognition and behaviour to meet specific internal and external environmental requirements beyond their existing capacity and resources 24. Caregivers with an active coping style could better cope with their problems and thus may reduce the burden of caring for children with FA 25.…”