title: Psychometric Evaluation of the HIV Disclosure Belief Scale: A Rasch Model Approach.
abstract: This study provides psychometric assessment of an HIV disclosure belief scale (DBS) among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study used baseline data from a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of an HIV serostatus disclosure intervention of 338 HIV-positive MSM. The Rasch model was used after unidimensionality and local independence assumptions were tested for application of the model. Results suggest that there was only one item that did not fit the model well. After removing the item, the DBS showed good model-data fit and high item and person reliabilities. This instrument showed measurement invariance across two different age groups, but some items showed differential item functioning between Caucasian and other minority groups. The findings suggest that the DBS is suitable for measuring the HIV disclosure beliefs, but it should be cautioned when the DBS is used to compare the disclosure beliefs between different racial/ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: College of Behavioral and Community Science, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MHC 2503, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. jxhfran@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jinxiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Behavioral and Community Science, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MHC 2503, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Julianne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Serovich
authors.affiliation: College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsin
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Behavioral and Community Science, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MHC 2503, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Monique J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: College of Behavioral and Community Science, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MHC 2503, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kimberly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D030881:Disclosure; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012650:Self Disclosure; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; MSM; Serostatus disclosure; Validity