Path Analysis of the Influence of Self-Esteem Level on Disease-Related Stigma in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

This study aimed to investigate the pathways by which self-esteem affects stigma in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A survey was conducted on 201 hospitalized CHB patients at the department of infectious diseases in a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou. Data were collected using various scales and analyzed with SPSS 24.0. The findings indicated that 66.2% of patients experienced severe stigma. Self-esteem was positively correlated with stigma and its dimensions (r = 0.175–0.341, P < 0.05), emerging as a significant factor influencing stigma scores, negative self-evaluation, perceived humiliation, and secondary discrimination. Further analysis revealed that self-esteem indirectly affected stigma by mediating coping styles, perceived social support, and disease cognition. This study elucidates the mechanism of self-esteem in shaping stigma among CHB patients and provides a theoretical basis for targeted interventions.