Community‐based survey of perceived stigma in dementia: Insights from a collectivist culture

INTRODUCTION In collectivist cultures, internalization of negative beliefs fosters stigma. This study aimed to assess the relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) knowledge and perceived stigma, focusing on sociodemographic variables; gender, marital status, occupation, and caregiving. METHODS In this cross‐sectional study, 529 participants without psychiatric or neurological disorders completed the AD knowledge scale, Affiliated Stigma Scale (ASS), and stigma survey. RESULTS Age showed no significant association with dementia knowledge or stigma. Higher education, living with family/spouse, and being dementia caregiver predicted perceived stigma. Caregivers demonstrated higher knowledge; but similar stigma levels compared to non‐caregivers which was significantly related to the ASS‐affective component. Healthcare workers also had greater knowledge but did not differ in terms of stigma. DISCUSSION Knowledge improved by education and caregiving, but stigma persisted, shaped by emotional and cultural dynamics. These findings suggest that future interventions may benefit from integrating empathy‐focused and attitude‐based modules, as knowledge alone is insufficient to reduce stigma.