Exploring Gender Differences in Perceived Stress, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness, and Coping Styles among Caregivers of People Diagnosed with Psychiatric Illness: Gender Differences among Caregivers of People Diagnosed with Psychiatric Illness

Shamsa Batool; Elizabeth Schwaiger; Abia  Nazim; Razia Sultana; Hephsibah Younis

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v7i10.1082

Authors

Shamsa Batool Department of Psychology, Forman Christan College, University, Lahore, Pakistan
Elizabeth Schwaiger Department of Psychology, Forman Christan College, University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abia Nazim Department of Psychology, Forman Christan College, University, Lahore, Pakistan
Razia Sultana College of Nursing, Ali-Razi Institute, Lahore, Pakistan
Hephsibah Younis Department of Psychology, Forman Christan College, University, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v7i10.1082

Keywords:

Coping Styles, Perceived Stress, Psychiatric Illness, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness

Abstract

Globally it is seen that not only the patients who are suffering from mental disorders but also the caregivers or family members are also facing multiple psychological distress due to their disturbances. Objectives: To measure perceived stress, internalized stigma, and coping styles among caregivers of psychiatric patients. Methods: 160 participants were selected through purposive sampling from eight hospitals in Lahore. The study questionnaire booklet included the Urdu versions of the Internalized Stigma Scale, Coping Styles Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale respectively. Pearson product-moment correlations and T-tests were computed to explore gender differences in levels of the study variables. Results: The results revealed that women spent more time with loved ones as compared to men. There was a strong relationship with most of the variables among men, whereas the copying style scale showed no relationship with all variables. There was a strong relationship reported among women on most of the variables but coping style indicates a negligible relationship with the internalized stigma of mental illness. The T-test indicates that there was a significant difference (p-value=0.04*) reported on the internalized stigma of mental illness stereotype endorsement among men and women, whereas the rest of the variables did not report any significant differences. Conclusions: It was concluded that future research should be conducted on caregivers to create awareness and mitigate internalized stigma of mental illness as well as reduce stress common among people.

References

Guan Z, Wiley JA, Tang S, Sun M. Internalised Stigma, Social Support, Coping and Care‐Giving Burden among Chinese Family Caregivers of Adults Diagnosed with Schizophrenia: A Parallel Mediation Analysis. Health and Social Care in the Community. 2022 Nov; 30(6): 2300-10. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13780. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13780

Saleem T, Saleem S, Tahan M. Assessing Caregiving Burden in Family Caregivers of Depression and Schizophrenia in Pakistan. Neuropsychopharmacologia Hungarica. 2024 Jun; 26(2): 86-93.

Kalhovde AM and Kitzmüller G. Family Caregivers’ Trajectories of Distress While Caring for a Person With Serious Mental Illness. Qualitative Health Research. 2024 Jan; 34(1-2): 154-65. doi: 10.1177/10497323231203627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323231203627

Kawashima T, Nakamura M, Bouix S, Kubicki M, Salisbury DF, Westin CF et al. Uncinate Fasciculus Abnormalities in Recent Onset Schizophrenia and Affective Psychosis: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Schizophrenia Research. 2009 May; 110(1-3): 119-26. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.01.014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2009.01.014

Siddiqui S and Khalid J. Determining the Caregivers’ Burden in Caregivers of Patients with Mental Illness. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2019 Sep; 35(5): 1329. doi: 10.12669/pjms.35.5.720. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.720

Zamaan Ni and Ali U. Validity Assessment of Coping Styles Scale (CSS). Pakistan Journal of Psychology. 2015 Jun; 46(1).

Chan SF and La Greca AM. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). In Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Cham: Springer International Publishing. 2020 Oct: 1646-1648. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_773. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_773

Arman M, Ranheim A, Rehnsfeldt A, Wode K. Anthroposophic Health Care–Different and Home‐Like. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2008 Sep; 22(3): 357-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00536.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00536.x

Craig F, Savino R, Fanizza I, Lucarelli E, Russo L, Trabacca A. A Systematic Review of Coping Strategies in Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2020 Mar; 98: 103571. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103571. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103571

Grover S and Chakrabarti S. Coping among the Caregivers of Patients With Schizophrenia. Industrial Psychiatry Journal. 2015 Jan; 24(1): 5-11. doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.160907. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-6748.160907

Ghazanfar L and Shafiq S. Coping Strategies and Family Functioning As Predictors of Stress among Caregivers of Mentally Ill Patients. International Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2016; 4(1): 8-16. doi: 10.5923/j.ijcp.20160401.02.

Gardner DM, Murphy AL, Kutcher S, Beaulieu S, Carandang C, Labelle A et al. Evidence Review and Clinical Guidance for the Use of Ziprasidone in Canada. Annals of General Psychiatry. 2013 Dec; 12: 1-9. doi: 10.1186/1744-859X-12-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-859X-12-1

Shi Y, Shao Y, Li H, Wang S, Ying J, Zhang M et al. Correlates of Affiliate Stigma among Family Caregivers of People with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2019 Feb; 26(1-2): 49-61. doi: 10.1111/jpm.12505. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12505

Kageyama M, Nakamura Y, Kobayashi S, Yokoyama K. Validity and Reliability of the Family Empowerment Scale for Caregivers of Adults With Mental Health Issues. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2016 Oct; 23(8): 521-31. doi: 10.1111/jpm.12333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12333

Sadath A, Muralidhar D, Varambally S, Jose JP, Gangadhar BN. Caregiving and Help-Seeking in First Episode Psychosis: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health. 2014 Dec; 1: 47-53. doi: 10.1007/s40737-014-0013-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-014-0013-2

Lerner D, Chang H, Rogers WH, Benson C, Lyson MC, Dixon LB. Psychological Distress among Caregivers of Individuals with A Diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder. Psychiatric Services. 2018 Feb; 69(2): 169-78. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201600422

Ribé JM, Salamero M, Pérez-Testor C, Mercadal J, Aguilera C, Cleris M. Quality of Life in Family Caregivers Of Schizophrenia Patients in Spain: Caregiver Characteristics, Caregiving Burden, Family Functioning, and Social and Professional Support. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. 2018 Jan; 22(1): 25-33. doi: 10.1080/13651501.2017.1360500. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13651501.2017.1360500

Wolff JL, Spillman BC, Freedman VA, Kasper JD. A National Profile of Family and Unpaid Caregivers Who Assist Older Adults with Health Care Activities. Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine. 2016 Mar; 176(3): 372-9. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.7664. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.7664

Sharma H, Sharma B, Sharma DB. Burden, Perceived Stigma and Coping Style of Caregivers of Patients With Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research. 2017 Nov; 7(11): 84-94.

Chang CC, Yen CF, Jang FL, Su JA, Lin CY. Comparing Affiliate Stigma Between Family Caregivers of People With Different Severe Mental Illness in Taiwan. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2017 Jul; 205(7): 542-9. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000671 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000671