Abstract
Objectives:
Knowledge about the mechanism of the personal stigma of depression may inform strategies to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking. We examined the dimensionality and risk factors of the personal stigma of depression in older adults at risk of depression.
Methods:
Seven-hundred and one Hong Kong adults aged 50 years and older at risk of depression completed the personal stigma subscale of the depression Stigma Scale (DSS-personal) at two-time points. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to explore the factor structure of DSS personal and confirmatory factor analysis to examine the model fit of the EFA-informed factor structure and structures proposed in previous studies. Regression analyses examined the relationships between risk factors and personal stigma dimensions.
Results:
Factor analyses identified a 3-factor structure of DSS-personal resembling the social-cognitive model consistent over time and included stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.05). Regression analyses indicated all stigma dimensions were associated with older age, less education, and no personal history of depression (B = –0.44 to 0.06); discrimination was also associated with more depressive symptoms (B = 0.10 to 0.12).
Conclusion:
Findings illustrated the potential theoretical underpinning of DSS-personal. Stigma reduction interventions could target and tailor to older adults with risk factors to enhance effectiveness and promote help-seeking.
Knowledge about the mechanism of the personal stigma of depression may inform strategies to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking. We examined the dimensionality and risk factors of the personal stigma of depression in older adults at risk of depression.
Methods:
Seven-hundred and one Hong Kong adults aged 50 years and older at risk of depression completed the personal stigma subscale of the depression Stigma Scale (DSS-personal) at two-time points. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to explore the factor structure of DSS personal and confirmatory factor analysis to examine the model fit of the EFA-informed factor structure and structures proposed in previous studies. Regression analyses examined the relationships between risk factors and personal stigma dimensions.
Results:
Factor analyses identified a 3-factor structure of DSS-personal resembling the social-cognitive model consistent over time and included stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.05). Regression analyses indicated all stigma dimensions were associated with older age, less education, and no personal history of depression (B = –0.44 to 0.06); discrimination was also associated with more depressive symptoms (B = 0.10 to 0.12).
Conclusion:
Findings illustrated the potential theoretical underpinning of DSS-personal. Stigma reduction interventions could target and tailor to older adults with risk factors to enhance effectiveness and promote help-seeking.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1644-1651 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Aging and Mental Health |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 21 Feb 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This work is supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charites Trust for The University of Hong Kong for the Project JC JoyAge: Jockey Club Holistic Support Project for Elderly Mental Wellness (HKU Project Code: AR160026 and AR190017).
Keywords
- discrimination
- prejudice
- psychometrics
- social-cognitive model
- Stereotype
