Attitudes about mental illness and its treatment: validation of a generic scale for public health surveillance of mental illness associated stigma.
The purpose of this study was to test a brief instrument to monitor the U.S. public's attitudes about mental illness. A SAMHSA and CDC-led panel reached consensus through an iterative process to identify generic, multidimensional measures to test using a representative sample of 5,251 adults. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two subscales (Negative Stereotypes [alpha = 0.66]; Recovery and Outcomes [alpha = 0.69]). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the convergent validity of the two subscales. Subscale scores differed by sex, race/ethnicity, and experience with mental illness. Inclusion of these brief subscales on existing population-based surveys can help states and others track attitudes about mental illness.
Kobau
Rosemarie
R
Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K-51, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. RKobau@cdc.gov
Diiorio
Colleen
C
Chapman
Daniel
D
Delvecchio
Paolo
P