Challenging aged care stigma through communication: discursive responses to stigmatising discourses about aged care work and implications for workers’ mental health

Asmita V. Manchha (), Ken Tann, Kïrsten A. Way and Michael Thai
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Asmita V. Manchha: The University of Queensland
Ken Tann: The University of Queensland Business School
Kïrsten A. Way: The University of Queensland
Michael Thai: The University of Queensland

European Journal of Ageing, 2025, vol. 22, issue 1, No 14, 14 pages

Abstract: Abstract Occupational stigma can negatively impact aged care workers’ (ACWs) mental health. This mixed-methods study investigates whether ACWs who challenge stigmatising discourses, through communication, experience reduced psychological costs of aged care stigma. We screened 184 ACWs’ discursive responses and tested for differences in ACWs’ mental health between those who challenge stigma and those who do not. A discourse approach was further employed to examine recurring language patterns in ‘challenge’ discursive responses. ACWs (n = 95) who discursively challenged stigmatising discourses reported lower internalised occupational stigma and psychological distress than those who did not challenge stigma (n = 89). These workers chose to infuse positive value into negative evaluations about ACWs and aged care work. Overall, findings suggest that ACWs may spontaneously challenge occupational stigma, through their discursive responses, which may proactively protect their mental health. We offer practical implications for challenging stigma, including developing guidelines, training, and language-based interventions.

Keywords: Aged care work; Occupational stigma; Dirty work; Discursive responses; Mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10433-025-00844-2

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