Stigmatization and Psychological Wellbeing of Primary Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana is a country with strong cultural and religious beliefs. These beliefs tend to foster stigmatization and discrimination of the disabled and their primary caregivers within society. Developmentally disabled children, like those having other disabilities, are the most affected by stigmatization of their primary caregivers. The present study examined the effect of stigmatization on the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers of developmentally disabled children. Sixty- nine primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities in the Accra Metropolis were purposively selected for the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was used in assessing affiliate stigma, psychological wellbeing and the method of coping among primary caregivers. Results of the study revealed that primary caregivers who have high affiliate stigma, experience poorer psychological wellbeing. It was also observed that married primary caregivers have better environmental mastery and personal growth than unmarried caregivers. Also Africultural Coping predicted psychological wellbeing and affiliate stigma. There was no significant difference between males and females on measures of psychological wellbeing. Furthermore there was no significant relationship established between educational background and psychological wellbeing. Results therefore imply that stigma reduction interventions which involve a consideration of primary caregiver’s marital status, and also the use of Cognitive/Emotional Debriefing, Spiritual Centered coping, Collective coping and Ritual-Centered coping, would help improve the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers.