The Role of Stigmas in Mental Health: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Background: HIV (Human immunodeficiency Virus); AIDS and cancer are feared terminal diseases. HIV sufferers are known to be stigmatized. The stigma surrounding cancer; unfortunately; is hardly the focus of psychological investigations; and hence this provoked the need to compare the stigma suffered by both groups; and how these have impacted on the psychological functioning of the disease sufferer. Objectives: The study had two main objectives; firstly; to explore whether HIV patients suffer more stigma than cancer patients or not; and secondly; to understand the most common type of stigma and if stigma is associated with psychopathology. Psychopathology is measured with GHQ-28 which evaluates somatic complaints; anxiety; depression and social dysfunction. Method: The study was a survey; and descriptive in nature; and anchored on two hypotheses Firstly; that HIV patients will experience more stigmas than cancer patients and consequently report more psychological dysfunctions. Secondly that there will be a significant difference between types of stigma and the symptoms reported about them. Data were collected from a conveniently sampled group of 50 HIV positive patients and another 50 patients diagnosed with cancer; in two clinics and a hospital around the Gauteng Province. The majority of the participants were females; numbering 62 (62; 0); whilst 38 (38.0) were males. The age of the respondents ranged from 20-73 years with a mean age of 44.4 years (s.d. = 11.6). Results: Results revealed a significant main effect for enacted stigma F = (1.98); = 17.629; p .001 and anxiety F