The lived experiences of stigma among stroke survivors in a peer group

This qualitative study explored how participation in a peer support group influences the internalization of stigma, stigma management, and social identity among people with brain injury. The sample included seven members of Amigos de la Esperanza, a peer group for stroke survivors in Chile. Data were collected through two focus groups and seven in-depth interviews exploring experiences of stigma and group participation. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants described experiencing public stigma through misinformation, negative labels, social distancing, and patronizing attitudes. These interactions contributed to self-stigma, shaped by negative self-perceptions, self-criticism, and feelings of sadness, shame, anger, and guilt. Participation in the group helped counteract negative effects of stigma by fostering positive self-perception, emotional well-being and a more compassionate inner dialogue, enabling a positive reconstruction of identity beyond illness. The internalization of stigma after brain injury is not solely an individual experience but develops within social interactions. Peer groups may function as collective spaces for managing stigma and promoting identity reconstruction, offering long-term, low-cost benefits beyond clinical care. Implementing these community-based interventions in Chile and Latin America can improve rehabilitation outcomes and social reintegration for people with brain injury. Peer support groups provide low-cost, long-term support through shared experiences that foster psychological well-being and reintegration after brain injury.Group participation fosters connection, validation, and meaning making, supporting the reconstruction of a valued sense of self after brain injury.Peer support groups serve as therapeutic spaces for processing self-stigma through mutual support, fostering a more compassionate and positive self-view.This study fills a gap in Latin American rehabilitation research by providing culturally grounded evidence for community-based peer interventions. Peer support groups provide low-cost, long-term support through shared experiences that foster psychological well-being and reintegration after brain injury. Group participation fosters connection, validation, and meaning making, supporting the reconstruction of a valued sense of self after brain injury. Peer support groups serve as therapeutic spaces for processing self-stigma through mutual support, fostering a more compassionate and positive self-view. This study fills a gap in Latin American rehabilitation research by providing culturally grounded evidence for community-based peer interventions.

本项质性研究（qualitative study）探讨了同伴支持团体（peer support group）参与对脑损伤（brain injury）人群污名（stigma）内化、污名管理及社会认同的影响。研究样本包含智利卒中幸存者同伴团体Amigos de la Esperanza的7名成员。数据通过两场焦点小组讨论与7次深度访谈收集，访谈内容围绕污名经历与团体参与体验展开。转录文本采用主题分析法（thematic analysis）进行分析。参与者表示，自身遭遇的公众污名来自错误信息、负面标签、社交疏远与屈尊态度；此类互动催生了自我污名，其形成受到负面自我认知、自我批判以及悲伤、羞耻、愤怒与愧疚情绪的影响。参与该团体有助于抵消污名带来的负面影响：通过培育积极自我认知、情绪健康与更具共情力的内在对话，实现超越疾病的身份积极重构。脑损伤后的污名内化并非单纯的个体体验，而是在社会互动中逐步形成的。同伴团体可作为管理污名、促进身份重构的集体空间，提供临床护理之外的长期低成本益处。在智利及拉丁美洲推广此类社区干预措施，可改善脑损伤人群的康复结局与社会再融入（social reintegration）。同伴支持团体通过共享体验提供低成本长期支持，助力脑损伤后的心理健康与社会再融入；团体参与培育联结感、认同感与意义建构，支持重构具有价值感的自我认知。同伴支持团体可作为治疗空间，通过互助处理自我污名，培育更具共情力的积极自我视角。本研究为拉丁美洲康复研究填补了空白，为社区同伴干预提供了基于文化语境的实证依据。同伴支持团体通过共享体验提供低成本长期支持，助力脑损伤后的心理健康与社会再融入；团体参与培育联结感、认同感与意义建构，支持重构具有价值感的自我认知。同伴支持团体可作为治疗空间，通过互助处理自我污名，培育更具共情力的积极自我视角。本研究为拉丁美洲康复研究填补了空白，为社区同伴干预提供了基于文化语境的实证依据。