Stigmatization experiences of Turkish parents of patients hospitalized in child and adolescent psychiatric clinics

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study determined the stigmatization experiences of parents with a child who received inpatient treatment at the psychiatry clinic in Turkey. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted. The study sample consisted of 15 parents. The data were evaluated using the thematic analysis method. FINDINGS: According to the data analysis, six themes and eight subthemes were created. These themes were exclusion, labeled, hiding the child's disorder, positive discrimination, coping strategies, and despair. CONCLUSION: This study determined that all participant parents were exposed to stigmatization in many areas and tried to hide their child's diagnosis. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Mental health and psychiatric nurses should support the patient's parents to share and express both theirs and their child's stigmatization experiences.