The Management and Social Interaction of Stigma:Patients with LUTs as The Example

• Main Authors: Chou, Hsinyu, 周心瑜
• Other Authors: Chang, Chingfu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/15434862210927333519

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 社會學系 === 100 === People with mental illness put up with a lot more than their illness. Some illnesses are traditionally to be negative by the public. These prepositions usually contribute major stress toward people with mental health problems. Stigma is considered to be negative opinion or judgments held by individuals or society. Stigma and prejudice are quite often as distressing as the symptoms themselves. This paper examines the stigma associated with LUTS. Like Urinary Frequency and Urgency, distinguished with the stigma of incontinence, analyze the impact upon the study subject. This study intends to find out whether the subjects’ lower social rank will strengthen the level of stigma. The personal image may influence themselves. Qualitative data for this study came from in-depth interviews with two doctors and eight patients with urinary symptoms. We find that stigma is associated with frequency and urgency – not just incontinence. The stigma of frequency/urgency is rooted in the interruption of social interaction, the feel of loss of controlling themselves and blaming themselves. The stigma of urinary symptoms depends on whether or not the symptoms are perceptible. Men felt stigmatized for making frequent trips to the bathroom and feared being seen as sex-impotent. Women have a fear of carrying an unclean body and a lack of social identity. Men also intuitively feel more pressure than women. No matter what kind of urinary symptoms, they all affect people on the personal, inter-personal and/or social — not just physical — levels. The community and healthcare professionals should take stigma consequences (e.g. low self-esteem, anxiety or depression) into consideration while facing with individuals with urinary symptoms. Keywords: stigma, healthcare professionals, urinary incontinence, urinary symptoms