Addressing felt stigma in stroke survivors: Implications for quality of life and future research

Abstract

This letter to the editor responds to a study on the role of felt stigma in determining the health-related quality of life of stroke survivors in China. The findings demonstrate that felt stigma significantly impacts both physical and mental health outcomes, whereas enacted stigma does not show a significant effect. We argue that cultural factors, such as self-sufficiency values and filial piety, should be further explored as contributing elements to stigma perception. Additionally, we propose several areas for future research, including longitudinal studies, intervention-based approaches, cross-cultural comparisons, and caregiver perspectives. We also emphasize the need for integrating mental health support into post-stroke rehabilitation programs to address stigma more effectively. This commentary aims to stimulate further discussion on the psychosocial dimensions of stroke recovery and encourage a more holistic, patient-centered approach to rehabilitation.