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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Mood Disorders | Research

Psychometric properties of the Depression Stigma Scale in the Portuguese population and its association with gender and depressive symptomatology

Authors: Virgínia Conceição, Inês Rothes, Milton Severo, Kathleen Griffiths, Ulrich Hegerl, Ricardo Gusmão

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Stigma is one of the most significant constraints on people living with depression. There is a lack of validated scales in Portugal to measure depression stigma; therefore, the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) is essential to the depression stigma research in Portugal.

Methods

We developed the adaptation process with the ITC Guidelines for Translation and Adapting Tests taken into consideration. We collected the sample as part of the OSPI program—Optimizing suicide prevention programs and their implementation in Europe, specifically within the application in Portugal, and included 1693 participants. Floor-ceiling effects and response ranges were analyzed, and we calculated Cronbach alphas, and Confirmatory Analysis. Validity evidence was tested with two well-documented hypotheses, using data on gender and depression symptoms.

Results

The sample was well comparable with the general Portuguese population, indicating its representativeness. We identified a three-factor structure in each subscale (personal and perceived stigma): weak-not-sick, discrimination, and dangerous/unpredictable, with good model fit results. The Cronbach's alphas were satisfactory, and validity was confirmed.

Conclusions

This study established the validity and demonstrated good psychometric properties of the DSS in the Portuguese population. The validation of the DSS can be beneficial in exploring stigma predictors and evaluating the effectiveness of stigma reduction interventions.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Psychometric properties of the Depression Stigma Scale in the Portuguese population and its association with gender and depressive symptomatology
Authors
Virgínia Conceição
Inês Rothes
Milton Severo
Kathleen Griffiths
Ulrich Hegerl
Ricardo Gusmão
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-022-01945-7

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