Stigmatization experiences of Turkish parents of patients hospitalized in child and adolescent psychiatric clinics

Abstract

Purpose This study determined the stigmatization experiences of parents with a child who received inpatient treatment at the psychiatry clinic in Turkey. Method A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Individual in‐depth interviews were conducted. The study sample consisted of 15 parents. The data were evaluated using the thematic analysis method. Findings According to the data analysis, six themes and eight subthemes were created. These themes were exclusion, labeled, hiding the child's disorder, positive discrimination, coping strategies, and despair. Conclusion This study determined that all participant parents were exposed to stigmatization in many areas and tried to hide their child's diagnosis. Practical Implications Mental health and psychiatric nurses should support the patient's parents to share and express both theirs and their child's stigmatization experiences.

Validity and reliability of the internalized stigma of Mental Illness Scale–Adolescent Form

“…Under the subtheme of self‐protection through secrecy, they reported that adolescents conceal their mental disorders and use of medication to avoid negative perceptions of their peers, feel shame about their condition, and withdraw socially. In a Turkish study by Dikeç, Uzunoğlu et al (2019) involving the parents of adolescents with mental disorders, it was found that all parents concealed their children's diagnosis and some of them experienced helplessness with regard to coping with stigma. In the focus group interview held by Yıldız et al (2019), a disease concealment subscale was added to the scale created for relatives of adults with mental disorders.…”

“…In a Turkish study by Dikeç, Uzunoğlu et al (2019) involving the parents of adolescents with mental disorders, it was found that all parents concealed their children's diagnosis and some of them experienced helplessness with regard to coping with stigma. In the focus group interview held by Yıldız et al (2019), a disease concealment subscale was added to the scale created for relatives of adults with mental disorders.…”

“…A short personal information form was developed by the researchers in accordance with the literature (Dikeç, Uzunoğlu et al, 2019;Oban & Küçük, 2011;Yıldız et al, 2019) and was used to record the participants' age, sex, economic status, education level, diagnosis, and treatment adherence.…”

Who Stigmatizes More? Adolescents with Mental Disorders or Their Parents?

“…Aile ergeni damgalamakta ve damgalanmamak için de bu durumu herkesten gizlemektedir. Yapılan çalışmalarda ruhsal bozukluğu olan bireylerin ebeveynlerinin bu durumdan utandıkları ve ruhsal bozukluk varlığını herkesten gizlemeleri içselleştirilmiş damgalama ile ilişkilidir (8,9) . Mak ve ark.…”

“…Dikeç ve ark. 'nın (8) ruhsal bozukluk nedeniyle yatarak tedavi edilen ergenlerin ebeveynlerinin damgalama deneyimlerini belirlemek amacı ile yaptıkları kalitatif çalışmada, ebeveynlerin tamamının yeni bir işe başlama, yeni bir kişi ile tanışma esnasında çocuklarının hastalıklarını gizledikleri saptanmıştır. Ebeveynlerin yaşadıkları suçluluk ya da utanç duyguları nedeniyle toplumsal ilişkilerden kaçınması ve toplumun ruhsal bozukluğu olan birey ve ailesi ile aralarına sosyal mesafe koyması nedeniyle, ruhsal bozukluğu olan bireyler ve aileler sosyal izolasyon yaşarlar (9) .…”