Prevalence of Social Stigma and Level of Self Esteem among Cancer Patients

Cancer, beyond its medical implications, carries profound psychosocial consequences, with social stigma and lowered self-esteem being particularly significant due to their influence on treatment adherence, coping ability, and overall quality of life. Stigma often stems from misconceptions, cultural beliefs, and discriminatory attitudes, leading to social isolation, altered relationships, and emotional distress. These experiences can erode self-esteem, an essential psychological resource for maintaining resilience and hope throughout treatment and survivorship. This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among 60 cancer patients receiving treatment or follow-up at the various oncology centres, Chennai, aimed to assess the prevalence of stigma, evaluate self-esteem levels, and explore their relationship. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Social Stigma Scale for Cancer Patients (adapted from Cho et al.), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and analysed with SPSS software using Chi-square tests. Results indicated that 48% of participants reported high stigma scores (>6), while 52% experienced lower stigma; 72% had high self-esteem scores (>5) and 28% showed low self-esteem. A statistically significant inverse relationship between stigma and self-esteem (p = 0.001) was found, with higher stigma correlating with reduced self-esteem. Age (p = 0.016) and type of cancer (p = 0.030) were significantly associated with stigma, though no demographic variables were linked to self-esteem. Younger patients and those with certain cancer types were more likely to face higher stigma. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted interventions — including stigma-reduction campaigns, community engagement, and psychosocial support — to enhance self-esteem, improve emotional well-being, and promote holistic, patient-centred cancer care.

Cancer, Social Stigma, Self-Esteem, Psychosocial Impact, discrimination

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