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Khalafalla HE, Albasheer O, Alfaifi BAH, Abudayah AHK, Almasary MH, Alsulami ES, Alshuqayhi DS, Kremers SP. Diabetes-related social stigma among university students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36863. [PMID: 38215124 PMCID: PMC10783391 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetes-related stigma encompasses stereotypes, discrimination, and blame, significantly influencing diabetes management and overall well-being. Despite high diabetes-related stigma prevalence in various contexts, there is limited research in Saudi Arabia, especially that perceived/enacted by non-diabetics, the so-called social stigma. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess diabetes-related social stigma (DRSS) and to identify correlates among university students in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sampling was employed to collect responses from 536 Jazan University students using an online questionnaire. After excluding participants with diabetes mellitus (n = 17), data from 519 individuals were analyzed. The DRSS questionnaire comprised 2 scales: social distancing and negative attitudes and stereotyping. The study found mixed results regarding the student population's attitude toward diabetic patients. Most students displayed favorable answers on social distancing scale statements, with the majority of statements showing willingness to engage in different social aspects with diabetics getting a positive response from at least 96% of respondents. The study identified various types of negative attitudes and stereotyping, for example, 46% of the sample agreed that dealing with a diabetic is upsetting or tiring. Correlates of social distancing included academic year, rural residence, and nonmedical field of specialty, while predictors of negative attitude and stereotyping included female gender and higher family income. The findings indicate a need to improve attitudes related to diabetics among university students in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on negative attitude stereotyping. Raising awareness about DRSS, especially among future healthcare professionals, is essential. Further refinement of the DRSS measurement scales is recommended through broader testing among the general population to enhance our understanding of this important issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Husameldin Elsawi Khalafalla
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Osama Albasheer
- Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Manal Hassan Almasary
- College of Medicine, Al-Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Stef P.J. Kremers
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Speight J, Holmes-Truscott E, Garza M, Scibilia R, Wagner S, Kato A, Pedrero V, Deschênes S, Guzman SJ, Joiner KL, Liu S, Willaing I, Babbott KM, Cleal B, Dickinson JK, Halliday JA, Morrissey EC, Nefs G, O'Donnell S, Serlachius A, Winterdijk P, Alzubaidi H, Arifin B, Cambron-Kopco L, Santa Ana C, Davidsen E, de Groot M, de Wit M, Deroze P, Haack S, Holt RIG, Jensen W, Khunti K, Kragelund Nielsen K, Lathia T, Lee CJ, McNulty B, Naranjo D, Pearl RL, Prinjha S, Puhl RM, Sabidi A, Selvan C, Sethi J, Seyam M, Sturt J, Subramaniam M, Terkildsen Maindal H, Valentine V, Vallis M, Skinner TC. Bringing an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination: an international consensus statement on evidence and recommendations. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2024; 12:61-82. [PMID: 38128969 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(23)00347-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
People with diabetes often encounter stigma (ie, negative social judgments, stereotypes, prejudice), which can adversely affect emotional, mental, and physical health; self-care, access to optimal health care; and social and professional opportunities. To accelerate an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination, an international multidisciplinary expert panel (n=51 members, from 18 countries) conducted rapid reviews and participated in a three-round Delphi survey process. We achieved consensus on 25 statements of evidence and 24 statements of recommendations. The consensus is that diabetes stigma is driven primarily by blame, perceptions of burden or sickness, invisibility, and fear or disgust. On average, four in five adults with diabetes experience diabetes stigma and one in five experience discrimination (ie, unfair and prejudicial treatment) due to diabetes, such as in health care, education, and employment. Diabetes stigma and discrimination are harmful, unacceptable, unethical, and counterproductive. Collective leadership is needed to proactively challenge, and bring an end to, diabetes stigma and discrimination. Consequently, we achieved unanimous consensus on a pledge to end diabetes stigma and discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Speight
- School of Psychology and Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott
- School of Psychology and Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Renza Scibilia
- Diabetogenic, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; JDRF International, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sabina Wagner
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotions & Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital-Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Asuka Kato
- Department of Health and Social Behavior, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Victor Pedrero
- Faculty of Nursing, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sonya Deschênes
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Kevin L Joiner
- Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shengxin Liu
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Willaing
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotions & Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital-Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Public Health, Department of Health Services Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katie M Babbott
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bryan Cleal
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotions & Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital-Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jane K Dickinson
- Department of Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology, Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer A Halliday
- School of Psychology and Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eimear C Morrissey
- Health Behavior Change Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Giesje Nefs
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands; Diabeter, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Care and Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Shane O'Donnell
- Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Anna Serlachius
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Per Winterdijk
- Diabeter, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Care and Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hamzah Alzubaidi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bustanul Arifin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Emma Davidsen
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotions & Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital-Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mary de Groot
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Maartje de Wit
- Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Richard I G Holt
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Kamlesh Khunti
- Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
| | - Karoline Kragelund Nielsen
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotions & Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital-Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tejal Lathia
- Department of Endocrinology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, India
| | | | | | - Diana Naranjo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca L Pearl
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Suman Prinjha
- Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
| | - Rebecca M Puhl
- Department of Human Development & Family Sciences, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | | | - Chitra Selvan
- Department of Endocrinology, Ramaiah Medical College, Bengaluru, India
| | - Jazz Sethi
- The Diabesties Foundation, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Mohammed Seyam
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Abu Dis, Palestine
| | - Jackie Sturt
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mythily Subramaniam
- Institute of Mental Health Singapore, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Singapore, Singapore
| | - Helle Terkildsen Maindal
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotions & Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital-Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Michael Vallis
- Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Timothy C Skinner
- The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Flora Hill, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sińska BI, Kucharska A, Panczyk M, Matejko B, Traczyk I, Harton A, Jaworski M. Identification of Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors Influencing the Feeling of Stigmatization in People with Type 1 Diabetes. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2185. [PMID: 37570425 PMCID: PMC10418912 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11152185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large percentage of people with type 1 diabetes experience stigma, which may directly affect diabetes management. Moreover, it may adversely influence the acceptance of the disease and, thus, the treatment process, including compliance with medical and dietary recommendations. Therefore, it is important to seek adequate forms of counteracting the phenomenon of stigmatization. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the factors influencing the level of perceived stigma by T1D patients, with particular emphasis on sociodemographic factors (including sex, place of residence, and education) and clinical factors related to the course of the disease. METHODS An observational cross-sectional online questionnaire was conducted in a group of 339 people with T1D. The link to the questionnaire was shared via social media. The DSAS-1 questionnaire translated into Polish was used as the research tool. RESULTS A moderate level of stigmatization was found (49.78 ± 14.54 points). It was significantly lower in people living in small towns compared to rural residents (ß = -0.121, p = 0.038), lower in people in relationships compared to those who are single (ß = -0.175, p = 0.001), in people diagnosed with T1D at an older age (ß = -0.107, p = 0.048), and in those who rated their financial situation as very good vs. bad (ß = -0.314, p < 0.001). It was also found that the level of stigma significantly decreased with age (ß = -0.181, p = 0.001). In addition, a significantly higher stigma perception was uncovered in the group of people with HbA1C > 7% than in the group ≤ 7% (ß = 0.118, p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS Due to the occurrence of stigma among people with T1D, which can directly affect the management of diabetes, effective and comprehensive efforts should be made to provide support to people with diabetes. It is also necessary to raise awareness among the general public and disseminate knowledge about diabetes, which can reduce stigmatization as a result. Anti-stigma messages should be included in the prevention programs about the potential side effects and risks associated with mistreating people with T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata I. Sińska
- Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Erazma Ciołka Street, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland; (A.K.); (I.T.)
| | - Alicja Kucharska
- Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Erazma Ciołka Street, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland; (A.K.); (I.T.)
| | - Mariusz Panczyk
- Department of Education and Research in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 61 Żwirki i Wigury Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (M.P.); (M.J.)
| | - Bartłomiej Matejko
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 2 Jakubowskiego Street, 30-688 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Iwona Traczyk
- Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Erazma Ciołka Street, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland; (A.K.); (I.T.)
| | - Anna Harton
- Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), 159C Nowoursynowska Str., 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Mariusz Jaworski
- Department of Education and Research in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 61 Żwirki i Wigury Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (M.P.); (M.J.)
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