Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease
Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global public health issue, with a substantial population in China. Influenced by traditional Chinese medicine that links kidney health to sexual vitality, people with CKD in China face unique societal stigmatization. This study aimed to explore...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12676-2 |
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| author | Wei Xiong Tianhui An |
| author_facet | Wei Xiong Tianhui An |
| author_sort | Wei Xiong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global public health issue, with a substantial population in China. Influenced by traditional Chinese medicine that links kidney health to sexual vitality, people with CKD in China face unique societal stigmatization. This study aimed to explore the stigmatization experiences of individuals with CKD in China and their corresponding coping strategies. Employing a focused ethnographic approach, this research utilized participant observation within three WeChat groups and conducted offline semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals. The analysis of interviews and field transcripts reveals that people with CKD in China adopt a dualistic coping strategy metaphorically described as “huddling for warmth”: they externally conceal their condition to avoid social stigma while internally cultivating a strong communal identity through online and offline interactions. Despite the prevalent stigma, these individuals demonstrate remarkable resilience and agency through their proactive coping mechanisms. This study highlights the urgent need for the Chinese government, medical institutions, and the public to address this deep-rooted stigma and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment to enhance the well-being of people living with CKD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c698d5536df491f924a1039d2566cae |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c698d5536df491f924a1039d2566cae2025-08-20T03:43:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511810.1038/s41598-025-12676-2Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney diseaseWei Xiong0Tianhui An1School of Chinese Language and Literature, Central China Normal UniversityDepartment of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global public health issue, with a substantial population in China. Influenced by traditional Chinese medicine that links kidney health to sexual vitality, people with CKD in China face unique societal stigmatization. This study aimed to explore the stigmatization experiences of individuals with CKD in China and their corresponding coping strategies. Employing a focused ethnographic approach, this research utilized participant observation within three WeChat groups and conducted offline semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals. The analysis of interviews and field transcripts reveals that people with CKD in China adopt a dualistic coping strategy metaphorically described as “huddling for warmth”: they externally conceal their condition to avoid social stigma while internally cultivating a strong communal identity through online and offline interactions. Despite the prevalent stigma, these individuals demonstrate remarkable resilience and agency through their proactive coping mechanisms. This study highlights the urgent need for the Chinese government, medical institutions, and the public to address this deep-rooted stigma and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment to enhance the well-being of people living with CKD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12676-2Chronic kidney diseaseStigmaCoping strategiesQualitative researchChina |
| spellingShingle | Wei Xiong Tianhui An Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease Scientific Reports Chronic kidney disease Stigma Coping strategies Qualitative research China |
| title | Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease |
| title_full | Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease |
| title_fullStr | Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease |
| title_short | Resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in Chinese people with chronic kidney disease |
| title_sort | resilience and adaptive strategies for managing stigma in chinese people with chronic kidney disease |
| topic | Chronic kidney disease Stigma Coping strategies Qualitative research China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12676-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weixiong resilienceandadaptivestrategiesformanagingstigmainchinesepeoplewithchronickidneydisease AT tianhuian resilienceandadaptivestrategiesformanagingstigmainchinesepeoplewithchronickidneydisease |