title: Experiences of stigma and discrimination among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia in China: a field survey.
abstract: In China, caregivers for family members with schizophrenia play an important role in treatment and recovery but may experience stigma and discrimination simply because of their family relationship. The object of this study was to measure the degrees and correlates of stigma and discrimination experiences among this group. Four hundred twenty-seven caregivers participated in this hospital-based and cross-sectional study in Ningbo and Guangzhou, China. Data were collected by trained interviewers using fixed questionnaires. Stigma and discrimination experiences were measured by the Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire (MCESQ). Caregivers' social support was measured by the Social Support Rating Scale. Parametric analysis, nonparametric analysis and multivariate linear regression were used. The mean (SD) score of MCESQ was 2.44(0.45), 2.91(0.71) for stigma experiences and 1.97(0.37) for discrimination experiences on a five-point score ("1 = never" and "5 = very often"). Approximately 65% of caregivers reported that they tried to conceal their family members' illness, and 71% lacked the support of friends. The experience of stigma was significantly negatively associated with the perceived social support of caregivers (standard β = -0.2,p<0.001). Caregivers who were children of the patients experienced fewer stigmas than other (standard β = -0.18, p<0.001). Urban residence (standard β = -0.12, p<0.01) and patients did not complete primary school education (standard β = -0.13, p<0.01) were negatively related with stigmas. In addition, stigma and discrimination was more experienced in Zhejiang than in Guangdong (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study performed that caregivers of people with schizophrenia in China experienced general stigmas and rare discrimination and found the relations with social support, kinship, patient's educational level and regional differences. More interventions and supports should been given to caregivers who are lack of social support, who live in rural area and who are the patients' parents, spouses or siblings.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Weijun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Office of Director, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fujun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Affairs, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yafang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Huiwen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Management, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, Yunnan, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shuliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Donghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012934:Social Isolation; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult