Self-stigma of mental illness scale—short form: Reliability and validity

Abstract

The internalization of public stigma by persons with serious mental illnesses may lead to self-stigma, which harms self-esteem, self-efficacy, and empowerment. Previous research has evaluated a hierarchical model that distinguishes among stereotype awareness, agreement, application to self, and harm to self with the 40-item Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (SSMIS). This study addressed SSMIS critiques (too long, contains offensive items that discourages test completion) by strategically omitting half of the original scale’s items. Here we report reliability and validity of the 20-item short form (SSMIS-SF) based on data from three previous studies. Retained items were rated less offensive by a sample of consumers. Results indicated adequate internal consistencies for each subscale. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed subscale means progressively diminished from awareness to harm. In support of its validity, the harm subscale was found to be inversely and significantly related to self-esteem, self-efficacy, empowerment, and hope. After controlling for level of depression, these relationships remained significant with the exception of the relation between empowerment and harm SSMIS-SF subscale. Future research with the SSMIS-SF should evaluate its sensitivity to change and its stability through test-rest reliability.

Diminishing the self-stigma of mental illness by coming out proud

“…Items were summed for each subscale yielding four indices with higher scores representing greater self-stigma. Both short and long forms of the SSMIS have good reliability and validity (Corrigan et al, 2006(Corrigan et al, , 2012a. Internal consistency for the scales for this sample was also strong (aware: α¼0.84; agree: α¼0.87; apply: α¼0.79; harm: α¼0.86).…”

Honest, Open, Proud for adolescents with mental illness: pilot randomized controlled trial

“… a Stigma Stress Scale (Rüsch et al., ); b KIDSCREEN‐10 Index (Ravens‐Sieberer et al., ); c Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory, Short Form (Boyd et al., ); d Self‐Stigma of Mental Illness Scale‐Short Form, subscale apply/self‐concurrence (Corrigan et al., ); e Empowerment Scale (Rogers et al., ); f Stigma Coping Orientation Scales (Link et al., ); g General Help Seeking Questionnaire (Wilson et al., ); h Beck Hopelessness Scale, Short Version (Yip & Cheung, ); i Self‐Identified Stage of Recovery Scale (Andresen et al., ); j Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Meyer & Hautzinger, ). …”

“…Although representative data on costs of mental health service use for young people do not exist in Germany, we know from data in Britain that average annual costs associated with mental health service use for young people aged 5-15 are €1,697 when inflated to 2016 levels (Snell et al, 2013). Given that health service utilization and spending (Boyd et al, 2014); d Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale-Short Form, subscale apply/self-concurrence (Corrigan et al, 2012); e Empowerment Scale (Rogers et al, 1997); f Stigma Coping Orientation Scales (Link et al, 1991); g General Help Seeking Questionnaire (Wilson et al, 2005); h Beck Hopelessness Scale, Short Version (Yip & Cheung, 2006); i Self-Identified Stage of Recovery Scale (Andresen et al, 2010); j Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Meyer & Hautzinger, 2001).…”

Understanding the importance of “symbolic interaction stigma”: How expectations about the reactions of others adds to the burden of mental illness stigma.

“…Following on that distinction, there has been a growth of interest in understanding self-stigma (Corrigan and Watson, 2002; Drapalski et al 2013), measuring it (Ritsher et al, 2003; Corrigan et al, 2012; Barney et al, 2010), evaluating its consequences (Livingston & Boyd 2010), and intervening to mitigate those consequences (Mittal et al, 2012; Yanos et al, 2012; Lucksted et al, 2011). Broadly conceived, self-stigma might be conceptualized to include anything that is perceived, anticipated, interpreted or embodied by the stigmatized person –anything that is in any way psychologically processed by the individual.…”