Stigma and burden of mental illness and their correlates among family caregivers of mentally ill patients

Abstract

Background and objectives Family caregivers play a curial role in supporting and caring for their mentally ill relatives. Their struggle for facing stigma and shouldering caregiving burden is marginalized, undervalued, and invisible to medical services. This study assessed the stigma and burden of mental illnesses, and their correlates among family caregivers of mentally ill patients. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 425 main family caregivers of mentally ill patients at Assiut University Hospital. A structured interview questionnaire was designed to collect socio-demographic data of both patients and their caregivers. Stigma scale for caregivers of people with mental illness (CPMI) was used to assess the affiliate stigma, while the associative stigma was assessed by the explanatory model interview catalogue stigma scale (EMIC-Stigma scale). The caregivers’ burden was assessed using Zarit burden Interview, and Modified Attitude toward Mental Illness Questionnaire was used to assess caregivers’ knowledge and attitude towards mental illness. Results Bipolar disorder (48%) and schizophrenia/other related psychotic disorders (42.8%) were the most common mental illnesses among the study patients. The mean scores of CPMI total scale, EMIC-Stigma scale, and Zarit Burden scale were 56.80 ± 7.99, 13.81 ± 5.42, and 55.20 ± 9.82, respectively. The significant correlates for affiliate stigma were being parents of patients (ß = 4.529, p < 0.001), having higher associate stigma (ß = 0.793, p < 0.001), and aggressive behavior of mentally ill patients (ß = 1.343, p = 0.038). The significant correlates for associate stigma of the study caregivers were being caregivers’ relatives other than parents (ß = 1.815, p = 0.006), having high affiliate stigma (ß = 0.431, p < 0.001), having poor knowledge and negative attitude towards mental illness (ß = − 0.158, p = 0.002), and aggressive behavior of mentally ill relatives (ß = 1.332, p = 0.005). The correlates for the high burden were being male (ß = 3.638, p = 0.006), non-educated caregiver (ß = 1.864, p = 0.045), having high affiliate stigma (ß = 0.467, p < 0.001), having high associative stigma (ß = 0.409, p < 0.001), having poor knowledge and negative attitude toward mental illness (ß = − 0.221, p = 0.021), seeking traditional healers and non-psychiatrist’s care from the start (ß = 2.378, p = 0.018), and caring after young mentally ill relatives (ß = − 0.136, p = 0.003). Conclusion The studied caregivers suffered from stigma and a high level of burden. Psycho-educational programs directed toward family caregivers are highly recommended.

The psychological distress and mental health disorders from COVID-19 stigmatization in Ghana

“…In doing this, great care was taken not to include biases and preconceptions of the researchers ( Crabtree & Miller, 1992 ; Creswell, 1998 ). Member checking was used in validating the accuracy of the transcribed data ( Ebrahim et al, 2020 ). Telephone interviews were further conducted because of the restrictions on movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.…”

“…Although the enormous negative impact of stigma has been established, the majority of studies ( Ae-Ngibise et al, 2015 ; Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012 ; Corrigan & Watson, 2002 ; Ebrahim et al, 2020 ; Grover et al, 2019 ) explored stigma among patients with mental illness, and data are often collected from the patients and caregivers. Only few studies have addressed stigmatization related to COVID-19 in the Ghanaian context.…”

Stigmatized Attitude toward Mental Illness among the Caregivers of Patients with Psychiatric Illness

“…More than half of caregivers (54.4%) were illiterates. 13 A similar study was carried out by Loganathan and Murthy, which depicted that relationship of caregiver with the patient, as parent (46%), brother (2%), sister (3%), spouse (5%), and son (1%), respectively. 14 This study results describe that highest percentage (91%) of the caregivers had moderate, 6% had low, and 3% of the caregivers had high stigmatized attitude with the mean AE SD of stigmatized attitude score of 52.77 AE 9.91.…”

“…More than half of caregivers (54.4%) were illiterates. 13 A similar study was carried out by Loganathan and Murthy , which depicted that relationship of caregiver with the patient, as parent (46%), brother (2%), sister (3%), spouse (5%), and son (1%), respectively. 14…”

Caregiver or care receiver: Adolescents' experience of caregiving to a parent with severe mental illness: A qualitative study

“…They are embarrassed by their parent's behaviour (Ballal & Navaneetham, 2018), experience shame, and fear the associated stigma and discrimination (Reedtz et al, 2019). Perceived stigma by the family members of a mentally ill person is a common experience (Ebrahim et al, 2020). Although developed countries are working towards social acceptance of mental disease to tackle the associated stigma and discrimination, it remains a significant barrier to accepting mental illness by patients and family members in developing countries that affects their help-seeking behaviours (Pocock, 2017).…”