Abstract:
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 selfesteem 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.
