DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF A COVID-19 STIGMA SCALE: A FACTOR ANALYSIS INVESTIGATION IN A TURKISH POPULATION

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, social stigma in the context of health is a negative association between a person or group of people who share certain characteristics and a certain disease. Pioneering studies reveal that COVİD-19 disease causes fear, anxiety and stigma in humans. It is important to measure the effects of the COVİD-19 pandemic with measurement tools that have good psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to develop the COVİD-19 Stigma Scale to identify the stigma experienced by individuals who previously had COVİD-19. For this purpose, based on the stigmatization dimensions proposed by Earnshaw and Chaudoir (2009) , measurement tools used to measure stigmatization in past pandemics and various diseases were used. A total of 700 people aged 20 and over who had COVİD-19 and who completed COVİD-19 treatment at least one month ago participated in this research. In the analysis of the study, explanatory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and criterion-related validity were performed. As a result of the analyses, a 13-item scale consisting of three dimensions (enacted stigma, anticipated stigma, and internalized stigma) was identified. In addition, criterion validity was supported by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (with depression, r = 0.352 and anxiety, r = 0.299). . The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total items were .85; for the internalising stigma factor it was .84; for the enacted stigma it was .77; finally, for the expected stigma it was .89. Overall, the COVİD-19 Stigma Scale has strong psychometric properties and reliable self-report scale that can be used to evaluate internalized, enacted and anticipated stigmatization in people over 20 years of age who have survived COVİD-19 disease.

Keywords

• Stigma
• COVID-19 Pandemic
• Enacted Stigma
• Anticipated Stigma
• Internalised Stigma

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