Stigma, psychological resilience, and quality of life in caregivers of adolescents with depression: A cross-sectional structural equation study.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the impact of stigma and psychological resilience (PR) on the quality of life (QOL) of these caregivers and to explore the potential mediating role of PR in the relationship between stigma and QOL.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 334 primary caregivers of adolescents with depression recruited from two tertiary hospitals in Chongqing, China. Participants completed the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (PDD), Psychological Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF scale (WHOQOL-BREF).

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling revealed that stigma had a direct negative effect on PR. PR, in turn, had a direct positive effect on QOL. After controlling for PR, the direct effect of stigma on QOL was not significant (path cplus:β = -0.102, 95% CI: -0.401, 0.039). The indirect effect of stigma on QOL through PR was statistically significant (β = -0.192, 95% CI:-0.362, -0.088), indicating a full mediation effect of PR.

CONCLUSION

Stigma and PR are significant influence factor of the psychological and social QOL among caregivers of adolescents with depression. PR fully mediates the relationship between stigma and QOL. Interventions focused on enhancing PR may be particularly effective in improving the QOL for this population.