Assessment-Description

The Stigma-9 Questionnaire (STIG-9) is a psychometric tool designed to assess perceived stigma related to mental health. The questionnaire consists of 9 questions aimed at evaluating the extent to which individuals feel stigmatized or believe that society stigmatizes them due to mental health issues. The questions cover various dimensions of stigma, such as:
Personal stigma: How individuals feel about themselves due to their mental health condition.
Social perception: How they believe others view them because of their mental health problems.
Anticipated stigma: How much they expect to face discrimination or negative treatment from others.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data collected from the STIG-9 are analyzed to determine the degree to which individuals experience or perceive stigma. Key analyses conducted with this data include:
Reliability analysis: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is calculated to ensure that the scale’s questions are consistent and reliably measure the concept of stigma.
Factor analysis: To confirm the underlying dimensions of stigma that the STIG-9 evaluates.
Correlation analysis: To explore the relationship between perceived stigma and other variables, such as depression, anxiety, or social isolation.
Data from the STIG-9 can be used in clinical studies to assess the impact of stigma on individuals with mental disorders and to develop programs aimed at reducing stigma.

Purpose

The main goal of the STIG-9 is to measure the level of perceived stigma experienced by individuals due to mental health problems. This helps in understanding:
The impact of stigma on individuals’ psychological well-being.
The relationship between stigma and patterns of seeking treatment or social support.
The design of interventions aimed at reducing the effects of stigma and improving the quality of life for individuals with mental health disorders.

Calibration

The calibration of the STIG-9 includes the following steps:
Reliability analysis to ensure the internal consistency of the questionnaire’s items, using Cronbach’s alpha.
Confirmatory factor analysis to validate the structure of the dimensions assessed by the STIG-9.
Cross-validation in different populations to ensure the tool’s validity and generalizability.

Bibliography

Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2002). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry, 1(1), 16-20.
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363-385.
Thornicroft, G., Brohan, E., Rose, D., Sartorius, N., & Leese, M. (2009). Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination against people with schizophrenia: A cross-sectional survey. The Lancet, 373(9661), 408-415.