Relationships between stigma, social support, and distress in caregivers of Chinese children with imperforate anus: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose This study was conducted to explore the relationships between stigma, social support, and distress in caregivers of children with imperforate anus (IA) and determine whether social support mediates the relationship between stigma and distress. Design and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary children's hospitals in Eastern China. Primary caregivers completed the Social Support Scale and the Chinese versions of the Parent Stigma Scale and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and provided their demographic information. The children's demographic and clinical data were also collected. The hypothesized relations were explored using structural equation modeling via the bootstrap method. Results A total of 229 caregivers were enrolled. Distress was positively associated with stigma (r = 0.396, P  Conclusions Stigma can increase caregivers' distress, while social support can reduce it. Stigma can also negatively influence caregivers' social support. Therefore, stigma should be mitigated to enhance caregivers' social support and decrease their distress. Practice implications The study findings may aid in the identification of the psychological status of caregivers of children with IA, and also inform targeted intervention programs.