Affiliate stigma and its association with family burden among family members of people living with schizophrenia in China

Yilu Li; Dan Qiu; Qiuyan Wu; Anyan Ni; Zixuan Tang; Shuiyuan Xiao

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.046

Affiliate stigma and its association with family burden among family members of people living with schizophrenia in China

Schizophr Res. 2024 Apr 2:267:193-200. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.046. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yilu Li¹, Dan Qiu¹, Qiuyan Wu¹, Anyan Ni¹, Zixuan Tang¹, Shuiyuan Xiao²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address: Xiaosy@csu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38569392
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.046

Abstract

Purpose: Understanding affiliate stigma and its impact on family of people living with schizophrenia (PLS) in China is important for culturally informed intervention. This study aims to describe the pattern of affiliate stigma of family members of PLS in China and investigated the association between affiliate stigma and family burden.

Methods: PLS and their family members dwelling in community were randomly recruited from four cities across China and completed measures of affiliate stigma and family burden. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between affiliate stigma and family burden.

Results: A total of 493 dyads of family member and PLS were include in this study. The mean affiliate stigma in family members was 2.21 (SD = 0.61). The vast majority of family members reported the feeling of inferiority, helpless and sad because of their family members' schizophrenia, but few family members refusing to communicate or contact with the PLS. The mean score of overall family burden was 22.25 (SD = 14.90), with 98 % of participants reported moderate or severe burden. A higher level of affiliate stigma was associated with more family burden (b = 7.837, 95CI: 5.240 to 8.747). Affiliate stigma was significantly associated with family daily activities, entertainment activities, family relationship, physical health and mental health of family members, but not family economic burden.

Conclusion: A higher level of affiliate stigma was associated with more family burden among family with PLS. Anti-stigma intervention of mental illness should be consider not only PLS but also their family members.

Keywords: China; Family burden; Schizophrenia; Stigma.