Portuguese Version of the Stigma Scale: Preliminary Psychometric Characteristics

Authors

  • Catarina Silva Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra.
  • Maria João Soares Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra.
  • Nuno Madeira Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Department of Psychiatry. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra.
  • Inês Rosendo Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Unidade de Saúde Familiar Coimbra Centro. Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde Baixo Mondego. Coimbra.
  • Ana Filipa Miranda Unidade de Saúde Familiar Sete Caminhos. Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde Grande Porto II. Gondomar.
  • Ana Telma Pereira Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra.
  • Ana Araújo Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Department of Psychiatry. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra.
  • Carolina Cabaços Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Department of Psychiatry. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra.
  • António Macedo Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Department of Psychiatry. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.14623

Keywords:

Dementia, Mental Health, Psychometrics, Social Stigma, Surveys and Questionnaires

Abstract

Introduction: Stigma is associated with poor prognosis of illness and reduced help-seeking behavior, self-esteem and treatment compliance. The aims of this study were to study the reliability and construct validity of the King’s et al Stigma Scale, and its association with Illness and Help-Seeking Behaviors scale (IHSBS) scores.
Material and Methods: One hundred and forty mental health patients filled out the Stigma scale and the Illness and Help-Seeking Behaviors scale. The exploratory factor analysis of the stigma scale was performed, and its reliability studied. The correlation analysis was used and mean differences in Stigma Scale scores among IHSBS groups were explored.
Results: The exploratory factor analysis indicated four factors (F): F1-Disclosure, F2-Discrimination, F3-Acceptance and F4-Personal Growth, which showed acceptable/good internal consistency (α from 0.70 to 0.91). Help-seeking behaviors were not associated with stigma. The levels of Discrimination were high in the group with global high-IHSB and in patients with medium/high illness behavior (IB) and health-related worries (HW). Additionally, Disclosure and overall stigma levels were higher in groups with high-HW and with medium-IB scores (when compared with the group with low-IB). The group with low-IB also had lower levels of Acceptance and Personal Growth when compared with the groups with medium-IB and high-IB, respectively.
Conclusion: The Stigma Scale (27 items) is a valid, reliable instrument and useful tool to assess stigma in mental health patients.

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Author Biography

Maria João Soares, Institute of Psychological Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra.

Maria João de Castro Soares is a clinical psychologist and Researcher at the Department of Psychological Medicine, of the Faculty of Medicine, of the University of Coimbra.  She obtained a master's degree in Psychology (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, of the University of Coimbra). She is interested in mental health, perinatal mental health, sleep disorders, eating disorders, personality, suicidal behaviors, addictive behaviors, psychological assessment, and statistics applied to social sciences.

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Published

2022-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Silva C, Soares MJ, Madeira N, Rosendo I, Miranda AF, Pereira AT, Araújo A, Cabaços C, Macedo A. Portuguese Version of the Stigma Scale: Preliminary Psychometric Characteristics. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 1 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];35(9):614-23. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/14623

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 9 (2022): September

Section

Original

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Acta Médica Portuguesa

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