HIGHLIGHTS
- •Internalised stigma of living in a care home was identified in the majority of care home residents
- •Internalised stigma of living in a care home is the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms among older adults living in care homes
- •There is a need for clinical interventions aimed at reducing internalised stigma of living in a care home
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Thai culture traditionally abhors elders living in care homes due to the belief that
this represents a dereliction of filial piety by their children, thus care homes are
stigmatized as the domain of poor older adults with no family. This may impact negatively
on psychological wellbeing of residents, although little is known about the key factors
influencing depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study explores factors associated
with depressive symptoms, internalised stigma, self-esteem, social support and coping
strategies among older adults residing in care homes in Thailand.
METHOD/DESIGN
A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted with 128 older residents recruited
from two care homes in Northeast Thailand. Data were collected using the 15-Item Thai
Geriatric Depression Scale, Internalised Stigma of Living in a Care Home Scale, Thai
Version of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Thai Version of Multidimensional Scale of
Perceived Social Support and the Coping Strategies Inventory Short-Form.
RESULTS
Depressive symptoms were significantly correlated with internalised stigma, self-esteem
and social support (r = 0.563, −0.574 and −0.333) (p < 0.001), respectively. Perceived internalised stigma of living in a care home was the
strongest predictor of care home residents reporting depressive symptoms (odds ratio = 9.165).
DISCUSSION
Older adults who perceived high internalised stigma of living in a care home were
over nine times as likely to report experiencing depressive symptoms. Efforts to decrease
or prevent perceived internalised stigma might help to reduce depressive symptoms.
Interventions might include media collaboration, educational interventions in the
care home setting and organising social activities for residents and their families.
KEYWORDS
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 20, 2017
Accepted:
September 19,
2017
Received in revised form:
June 2,
2017
Received:
September 13,
2016
Footnotes
☆An authorship declaration: ST was responsible for developing the proposal and conducting the study under the supervision of HB and PC. ST wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed, edited and approved the final manuscript.
☆☆Acknowledgment: This study was supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Praboromarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development, the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand (awarded to Suhathai Tosangwarn). The authors would like to thank all the participants who participated in this study.
☆☆☆Disclosure statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this study.
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