Factors Influencing Stroke Internal Stigma Among Stroke Survivors

Introduction: Poststroke internal stigmatization in patients is often overlooked, yet it makes significant contribution to their recovery and quality of life. After stroke, the survivors often have negative perception toward themselves triggered by the internal stigma. Consequently, it affects the rehabilitation outcomes and increases the risk of long-term complications. Therefore, deeper analysis related to the factors influencing the internal stigma was crucial in order to develop an appropriate and innovative strategy to overcome this issue and optimize the recovery in stroke survivors. Objective: This study aimed to identify predominant factors influencing the internal stigma in stroke survivors in Indonesia. Methods: This study used descriptive analytical design and applied stratified nonprobability consecutive sampling involving 439 poststroke respondents from nine hospitals in Bali throughout 2023. This study used various instruments, namely stroke stigma scale (SSS), perceived family support, stroke self-efficacy scale (SSEQ), stroke awareness questionnaire, self-acceptance scale, knowledge of stroke and the respondents’ demographic data. The analysis was conducted using Pearson product–moment correlation and multiple regression. Results: The results from multiple regression analysis showed that self-acceptance (β =.374, p =.000), self-awareness (β =.132, p =.000), self-efficacy (β =.154, p =.000), family support (β =.090, p =.015), age (β =.083, p =.000), and stroke symptoms (β = −.347, p =.000) could explain the internal stigma for 62.8% (F = 124.266, p =.000). Conclusion: Self-acceptance became the most predominant factor towards internal stigma in the stroke survivors because it showed the ability in accepting changes after stroke, which eventually helped them to overcome the challenge and free themselves from internal stigma that interrupted the process of recovery and adaptation to poststroke physical and psychosocial changes.