Aditya Simha1, Sana Ahmed1, Ramakrishna Prasad2, Akshay S Dinesh3, Arun Kandasamy4, Naren P Rao4. 1. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, USA. 2. PCMH Restore Health, National Center for Primary Care Research and Policy, Academy of Family Physicians of India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 3. PCMH Restore Health, Metastring Foundation, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 4. National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the notion of stigma as a socio-cultural process with the concept rooted in social space rather than in individual space, global studies examining impact of cultural differences on stigma toward substance use disorders are lacking. AIM: In this study, we aim to study the influence of national culture differences on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders. METHODS: We analyzed individual-level data from 68,041 respondents from 49 countries on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders. We examined the effect of the national culture dimensions and national alcohol and substance consumption rates on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders using hierarchical linear modeling. RESULTS: Our hierarchical linear modeling results indicate that cultural dimensions and consumption rates significantly influence stigma. We found significant positive associations between stigma toward AUD and institutional collectivism and assertiveness, but a negative association with future orientation dimension. Like AUD, stigma toward SUD was also positively associated with institutional collectivism and assertiveness, but negatively associated with power distance. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings have immense implications for national interventions to decrease stigma and influence policy making.
BACKGROUND: Despite the notion of stigma as a socio-cultural process with the concept rooted in social space rather than in individual space, global studies examining impact of cultural differences on stigma toward substance use disorders are lacking. AIM: In this study, we aim to study the influence of national culture differences on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders. METHODS: We analyzed individual-level data from 68,041 respondents from 49 countries on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders. We examined the effect of the national culture dimensions and national alcohol and substance consumption rates on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders using hierarchical linear modeling. RESULTS: Our hierarchical linear modeling results indicate that cultural dimensions and consumption rates significantly influence stigma. We found significant positive associations between stigma toward AUD and institutional collectivism and assertiveness, but a negative association with future orientation dimension. Like AUD, stigma toward SUD was also positively associated with institutional collectivism and assertiveness, but negatively associated with power distance. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings have immense implications for national interventions to decrease stigma and influence policy making.
Entities:
Keywords:
Stigma; alcohol use disorder; cultural differences; substance use disorder
Authors: David Warnky; Swathi S Balachandra; Ramakrishna Prasad; Kevin J Sykes; Dorothy Lall; Upendra M Bhojani Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2021-11-29