Stigma among UK family carers of people living with dementia

[摘要] Background Models of caregiving seldom include the role of stigma whenunderstanding the experiences of carers of people living withdementia.AimsTo investigate the validity of the Family Stigma Instrument(FAMSI), and use it to explore the extent to which experiences ofstigma are endorsed in family carers of people living withdementia.MethodThe FAMSI was tested with 70 carers of people living withdementia. They also completed a measure of self-esteem.ResultsThe FAMSI demonstrated some good preliminary psychometricproperties. Carers endorsed stigma by association more so thanaffiliate stigma constructs, suggesting that carers were awarethat others viewed or treated them in a stigmatising fashion butdid not endorse internalised consequences of this as much (e.g.Behavioural or affective affiliate stigma).ConclusionsThe FAMSI offers new avenues for understanding the contribution of stigma to caregiver burden in dementia. It also capturesthe positive aspects of caregiving, which may mitigate internalised stigma in family carers, and has good potential for evaluating stigma-neutralising interventions in dementia care.

[学科分类] 计算机科学（综合）

[关键词] Stigma and discrimination;carers;dementia;social functioning;attitudes