Objective:

To examine the level of affiliate stigma and its association with specific aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among primary caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Mean affiliate stigma score among caregivers was 48.67 ± 15.63.
• Mean EQ-5D utility index was 0.95 ± 0.07.
• Mean Visual Analog Scale self-rated health score was 70.48 ± 17.22.
• HRQoL was significantly associated with age, income, gender, educational level, and occupational status (p < 0.05).
• Affiliate stigma was a significant negative predictor of caregiver HRQoL (EQ-5D-3L: β = -0.0032, p < 0.001; EQ-VAS: β = -0.3175, p < 0.001).
• Female caregivers had significantly lower utility index scores (p < 0.05).
• Lower income was significantly associated with lower self-rated health scores (p < 0.001).

Interpretation:

The study demonstrated a significant negative association between affiliate stigma and HRQoL among primary caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders.

Limitations:

• Limited local evidence regarding the interrelationship between affiliate stigma and HRQoL, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
• Most existing studies conducted in Western individualistic cultural contexts may not be applicable to collectivist societies like China, potentially limiting the understanding of stigma in this context.

Conclusion:

The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce affiliate stigma and improve the health-related quality of life of caregivers, suggesting avenues for future research and practice.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.