A latent profile analysis of affiliate stigma in family caregivers of patients with dementia

Background: Dementia is a significant challenge to global public health. In China, 15.07 million people aged 60 years or older suffer from dementia. Family caregivers bear the main responsibility for caring for patients with dementia. However, they experience increased negative emotions when caring for these patients and are particularly vulnerable to affiliative stigma. This cross-sectional study, based on Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), aimed to identify distinct affiliative stigma profiles among family caregivers of patients with dementia and explore the demographic and personal factors associated with these profiles. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 424 family caregivers of patients with dementia were assessed using the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Affiliate Stigma Scale, Psychological Detachment Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. LPA was used to analyze the latent profiles of affiliate stigma among family caregivers of patients with dementia. Unordered multi-class logistic regression analysis was used to explore the predictors of different profiles. Results: Three unique profiles were identified: High affiliate stigma-severe distress type (n=129, 30.43%), Moderate affiliate stigma-active coping type (n=76, 17.92%), and Low affiliate stigma-low insight type (n=219, 51.65%). The results of multiple logistic regression analyses showed that psychological detachment, social support, insurance payment, and the patients' family caregivers’ gender, marital status, education, and employment status, the duration of care provided to patients with dementia, and monthly income were predictors of affiliate stigma in family caregivers of patients with dementia (P<0.05). Conclusion: There was heterogeneity in affiliate stigma among family caregivers of patients with dementia. Healthcare professionals can identify the key profiles of these caregivers based on characteristics such as psychological detachment, social support, insurance coverage, and the caregivers’ gender, marital status, education level, employment status, caregiving duration, and monthly income. Additionally, targeted nursing guidance can be provided to reduce their affiliate stigma.