Brigiano Marco, Calabrese Lara, Chirico Ilaria, Trolese Sara, Quartarone Martina, Forte Ludovica, Annini Alice, Murri Martino Belvederi, Chattat Rabih
Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Jun 3;15(6):774. doi: 10.3390/bs15060774.
Dementia-related stigma significantly influences help-seeking and affects the quality of care and support received by people with the condition. This review examines the impact of stigma on help-seeking among people with dementia and identifies key factors influencing this relationship. A systematic search across Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus identified seventeen qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. These criteria encompassed studies focusing on individuals aged 60 and older addressing public- or self-stigma and exploring help-seeking behaviors and related influencing factors. A thematic synthesis was employed to analyze the findings. The following five major themes emerged: reluctance to disclose the condition, internalization or rejection of stigmatizing beliefs, influence of family and community, attitudes of healthcare professionals, and lack of awareness in the broader society. Factors such as psychological decline, loss of autonomy, limited service access, peer support, and need for policy-level intervention were identified as central in shaping stigma. Findings related to the factors that influence this relationship indicate that stigma delays diagnosis and treatment, restricting access to adequate care. Both individual (e.g., autonomy, psychological well-being) and contextual (e.g., social networks, public policies) factors are crucial in moderating this dynamic. Targeted interventions addressing these dimensions are urgently needed to reduce stigma and facilitate timely help-seeking in dementia.
与痴呆症相关的污名化显著影响了寻求帮助的行为，并影响了患有该疾病的人所获得的护理和支持质量。本综述考察了污名化对痴呆症患者寻求帮助行为的影响，并确定了影响这种关系的关键因素。通过对科学网、护理学与健康领域数据库、心理学文摘数据库、医学期刊数据库和Scopus进行系统检索，共识别出17项符合纳入标准的定性研究。这些标准涵盖了针对60岁及以上人群的研究，涉及公众污名或自我污名，并探讨了寻求帮助的行为及相关影响因素。采用主题综合分析法对研究结果进行分析。出现了以下五个主要主题：不愿透露病情、内化或拒绝污名化观念、家庭和社区的影响、医护人员的态度以及更广泛社会中的认知不足。心理衰退、自主性丧失、服务获取受限、同伴支持以及政策层面干预的必要性等因素被确定为形成污名的核心因素。与影响这种关系的因素相关的研究结果表明，污名化会延迟诊断和治疗，限制获得充分护理的机会。个体因素（如自主性、心理健康）和背景因素（如社会网络、公共政策）在调节这种动态关系中都至关重要。迫切需要针对这些方面的有针对性的干预措施，以减少污名化，并促进痴呆症患者及时寻求帮助。
