title: Validation of the German version of the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire/Social Comfort Questionnaire in adult burn survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the German version of the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire/Social Comfort Questionnaire (PSQ/SCQ) in burn victims.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PSQ/SCQ was answered by 139 adult burn survivors (age M=49.69, SD=15.16 years). Factor structure was examined using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Validity was investigated through correlations between the PSQ/SCQ scales and questionnaires assessing perceived social support, burn-specific health-related quality of life, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and percent of total body surface area (TBSA) burned. Additionally, the link between perceived stigmatization/social comfort and current partnership status was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four-factor model showed the best fit to the data with three PSQ factors (Absence of Friendly Behavior, Confused/Staring Behavior, and Hostile Behavior) and one single SCQ factor. All PSQ/SCQ scales showed good internal consistency. Higher PSQ/lower SCQ means were related to less perceived social support, less burn-specific quality of life, and more symptoms of anxiety/depression. With the exception of a positive correlation with the PSQ subscale Confused Behavior and Staring, no other significant correlations were found between the PSQ/SCQ subscales and TBSA burned. While PSQ/SCQ scores were not linked to age or gender, less perceived social stigmatization/more social comfort was reported by participants who were currently living with a partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate a four-factor structure and a good validity of the PSQ/SCQ which is in line with prior research. Further studies should investigate the application of the PSQ/SCQ in individuals with appearance distinctions that are not related to burns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: mueller.astrid@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Odisee University College, Brussels, Belgium; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jasper
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ipaktchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Zwaan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014177:Translations; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Burn-specific health related quality of life; Depression; Perceived stigmatization; Social comfort; Validity