Affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in China: Effects of self-esteem, shame and family functioning
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Abstract
<p class="first" id="d3497538e83">The present study aimed to investigate affiliate
stigma and depression in caregivers
of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in China and to examine the predictive
effects of self-esteem, shame proneness and family functioning. Two hundred and sixty-three
primary caregivers of children with autism in Mainland China participated in the survey.
The results suggested that affiliate stigma in caregivers of children with autism
was prevalent and severe; their depressive symptoms were significantly more severe
than the national norm of the similar age group. Low self-esteem, high shame proneness
and poor family adaptability were associated with experience of affiliate stigma and
heightened depressive symptoms. Affiliate stigma partially mediated the links between
self-esteem/ shame proneness/family adaptability and depression levels. This study
was the first one to measure affiliate stigma on caregivers of children with ASD in
mainland China using a quantitative method. The results highlight the necessity and
importance of de-stigmatization for the caregivers of children with autism and suggest
that interventions to improve self-esteem, reduce experience of shame and to enhance
family functioning might be effective.
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