Validation of the Mental Illness Stigma Scale, Ibn Sina Hospital, Mashhad

Background and Discrimination, stigma and social exclusion are very real aspects of life with psychiatric disorders. Individuals with such problems are faced with losing the opportunities for education, employment, and many obstacles regarding social activities. These will also negatively influence the communities. Given the importance of stigma, the present study aimed to validate the mental illness Stigma Scale This descriptive study included the patients admitted to Ibn Sina Hospital in Mashhad (2012-2013). Among the samples 210 were randomly selected. Data was collected using the Stigma Scale (King et al, 2007) then analyzed in SPSS. Content and construct validity and the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) were studied. The content validity assessment of the Stigma Scale was done by professional experts (n=10). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed that the three-factor model demonstrated a superior fit to the data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient indicated a good consistency for the Stigma Scale. The Stigma Scale (King et al, 2007) is a validated scale to measure the stigma in patients with mental disorders