Perceived Discrimination And Emotional Distress Among Family Caregivers Of Children With Physical Disabilities: The Mediational Role Of Affiliate Stigma And Self-Efficacy

The main objective of this research is to examine the consequences of perceived discrimination in family caregivers of people with physical disabilities. Through path analysis, we test the association between caregivers' perceived discrimination and their anxiety and depression and the mediating role that affiliate stigma and self-efficacy may play. We proposed a model that has not been tested previously in the literature on caregivers of people with physical disabilities. The sample includes 186 Spanish fathers (35%) or mothers (65%) raising children with physical disabilities. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated and structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediating effect. Results show that caregivers' perceived discrimination is positively associated with their affiliate or internalized stigma that in turn is harmful to their anxiety and depression. However, caregivers' self-efficacy plays a mediating role in the relation between affiliate stigma and caregivers' anxiety and depression. These results may be useful for designing interventions to improve the psychological well-being of the parents of children with physical disabilities.