Stigma perceptions and associated factors among caregivers of individuals with dementia: A systematic review of quantitative studies

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review aims to investigate studies on stigma perceptions and associated factors among caregivers of individuals diagnosed with dementia (IWD).
METHODS: Studies published between January 2000 and July 2024 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were fol-lowed for the search and review process. A total of 933 studies were identified through database searching, and 12 studies were included in this review, comprising 3,467 participants. A narrative synthesis was used to describe the included studies in terms of year, title, country, aim, participants, caregivers’ relationship to the individual diagnosed with dementia, type of dementia, data collection methods, scales used, research design, analytical methods, and research findings.
RESULTS: The findings indicated that stigma is associated with caregiver burden, emotional expressiveness, quality of life, anxiety, and psychological well-being. Regarding demographic variables, gender, age, education level, closeness to the individual diagnosed with dementia, and income level were found to be associated with stigma. For individuals with dementia, having frontotemporal dementia, a longer duration of dementia, and the presence of behavioral symptoms were associated with higher levels of stigma. It was also observed that caregivers taking breaks during caregiving had negative effects in terms of stigma.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that stigma is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by both individual and contextual factors. Addressing stigma through targeted interventions, awareness campaigns, and culturally sensitive strategies is essential to improve caregivers’ mental well-being and strengthen support systems. Future research would benefit from focusing on longitudinal and intervention studies to better understand the development of stigma over time and to design effective approaches to mitigate its impact.

Keywords: Dementia, family caregivers, stigma, systematic review