Stigma and Daily lives among Patients with Major Depressive Disorder in Gaza Governorates

Abstract

Background: The most common cause of diseases and dysfunction worldwide is depression. The issue of stigma is common and frequently arises from misunderstandings and a lack of awareness regarding mental illness. Objective: to determine the level of stigma and its effect on depressed patients' daily lives in the Gaza Governorates. Methods: 180 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) were chosen, and a stigma scale was used in the descriptive design. In addition to the data on demographic variables, SPSS 25 was employed for statistical analysis in this study. Results: The study found no variations at a significant level (0.05) in the development of stigma related to age, and the prevalence rate of perceived stigma is 64.5%. While there were significant differences at a significant level (0.05) in the development of stigma based on gender and differences in favor of women, on the other hand, 78.5% of the participants reported that there is a negative effect of stigma on their daily lives. This means that there was a significant relationship between stigma and the daily lives of depressed patients at a significant level (0.05). Conclusion: Stigma negatively affects the daily lives of people with depression. Understanding the stigma's roots, sociodemographic characteristics, and complications is essential to creating successful anti-stigma campaigns.