Research Information System
IMVHSC 10th INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL, VETERINARY AND HEALTH SCIENCES CONGRESS, Farg'ona, Uzbekistan, 17 - 19 November 2025, pp.52-53, (Summary Text)
This study aimed to examine the impact of sexual and reproductive
health stigma on family communication among female students. The sample
consisted of 360 students aged 18–30 from the Vocational School of Health
Services at a university in Istanbul. Data were collected using a
socio-demographic form, the Genital and Reproductive Health Stigma Scale
(GRHSS), and the Family Communication Patterns Scale (FCPS), and analyzed with
SPSS 22.0 (p<0.05, 95% CI). The mean GRHSS score was 6.26±3.8; internalized
stigma: 1.81±1.44, externalized stigma: 2.92±1.83, and unrealistic stigmatizing
attitudes: 1.53±1.84. The FCPS dialogue and conformity subdimension means were
47.37±14.77 and 30.22±9.18, respectively. Significant differences were found in
externalized stigma by mother’s education, dialogue by income level, and conformity
by smoking status (p<0.05). Differences in FCPS family types were also
significant for mother’s education, father’s occupation, and smoking. Results
suggest that higher maternal education is associated with more open and
pluralistic communication styles, which may reduce stigmatizing attitudes
related to sexual and reproductive health. These findings highlight the
importance of family dynamics in shaping perceptions of stigma among young
women.