Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale

Abstract

This study adapted a chronic illness stigma scale and explored its psychometric properties. The main purposes were to confirm the factor structure of the instrument with this population and address the previous factor intercorrelation discrepancies. Five hundred and fifty-four individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome completed the adapted stigma scale. Results document the stigma experienced by an international sample of individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Factors demonstrated good internal consistency, and a model fit was found in a confirmatory factor analysis. Participants endorsed high levels of stigma, estrangement, and disclosure. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.

Psychometric Properties of The Sub-Health Measurement Scale V1.0 for Assessing Suboptimal Health Status of Midwives: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Study

“…For the validity of SHMS V1.0, project analysis (item-total correlation) was used to test the homogeneity of each dimension and subscale, with the correlation coe cient greater than 0.40 considered as acceptable homogeneity [30]; the concurrent validity was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis with FS-14, with the effect size as "Low" (the value of correlation coe cient varied around 0.1), "Medium" (the value of correlation coe cient varied around 0.30) and "Large" (the value of correlation coe cient varied more than 0.50) [34]; and the construct validity was performed by CFA, with the factor loadings being at least 0.40 indicating a su cient correlation [35]. Good t indexes for the models were indicated by the ratio between χ 2 and the degrees of freedom of the model (χ 2 /df) less than 2, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) less than 0.08, Incremental Fit Index (IFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) or Comparative Fit Index (CFI) greater than 0.90, Parsimony Goodness-of-Fit Index (PGFI) greater than 0.50 [30,36]. All tests were two-sided and p-values less than 0.05 were regarded as statistically signi cant.…”

Long Covid stigma: estimating burden and validating scale in a UK-based sample

“…For the follow up survey, thirteen questions on stigma were designed following the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework (2) to capture three dimensions/domains: enacted (5 items), internalised (4 items), and anticipated (4 items). Questions (Table 2) were based on existing scales related to other stigmatised chronic conditions including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and HIV (17)(18)(19)(20) , emerging qualitative evidence on Long Covid stigma (9) , and coproduction with and feedback from people living with Long Covid. Response options were offered on a 5-point Likert scale: never, rarely, sometimes, often, and always, coded 0-4.…”

Strategies for Annotating Portfolios

“…The symptoms are often triggered by either physical or mental exertion, and the upswing in symptoms after over-exertion ranges from moderate to disabling for a period of time, varying from hours to days, sometimes even weeks. As the cause of ME is disputed within the scientific community, and the illness rather invisible to others, those affected are often stigmatized [49], also by medical professionals [48].…”