Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life among Adults with Bipolar Disorder in Pakistan: The Role of Perceived Stigma and Social Support

Abstract

Bipolar disorder is associated with substantial impairment in psychological well-being and quality of life, yet the psychosocial mechanisms underlying this relationship remain underexamined in South Asian populations. This cross-sectional study examined the association between psychological well-being and quality of life among adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder in Pakistan, and evaluated perceived stigma and social support as correlates of well-being. Participants completed the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale, WHOQOL-BREF, King's Stigma Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Psychological well-being was strongly and positively associated with all four WHOQOL-BREF domains and with perceived social support, and was negatively associated with perceived stigma. Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that psychological quality of life, social support, and perceived stigma together accounted for a substantial proportion of variance in psychological well-being, with all three predictors remaining significant. No meaningful gender differences emerged across the primary outcome variables. These findings underscore stigma and social support as clinically meaningful correlates of psychological well-being among adults with bipolar disorder in a collectivist cultural context, and highlight family-inclusive psychoeducation and stigma-reduction interventions as potential targets for improving well-being in this population. Limitations, including the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report measures, are discussed alongside implications for future longitudinal and mediation-focused research grounded in South Asian clinical populations.