title: Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) and Associations with Personal and Perceived Stigma in a Depressed and Community Sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on depression stigma is needed to gain more insight into the underlying construct and to reduce the level of stigma in the community. However, few validated measurements of depression stigma are available in the Netherlands. Therefore, this study first sought to examine the psychometric properties of the Dutch translation of the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS). Second, we examined which demographic (gender, age, education, partner status) and other variables (anxiety and knowledge of depression) are associated with personal and perceived stigma within these samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of an adult convenience sample (n = 253) (study 1) and a community adult sample with elevated depressive symptoms (n = 264) (study 2). Factor structure, internal consistency, and validity were assessed. The associations between stigma, demographic variables and anxiety level were examined with regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity and internal consistency of the DSS personal stigma scale. Internal consistency was sufficient (Cronbach's alpha = .70 (study 1) and .77 (study 2)). The results regarding the perceived stigma scale revealed no clear factor structure. Regression analyses showed that personal stigma was higher in younger people, those with no experience with depression, and those with lower education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study established the validity and internal consistency of the DSS personal scale in the Netherlands, in a community sample and in people with elevated depressive symptoms. However, additional research is needed to examine the factor structure of the DSS perceived scale and its use in other samples.
authors: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Section clinical psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO+ institute for Health Care and Research, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Boerema
authors: Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Den Haag, the Netherlands.
authors: K van
authors: Kv
authors: Zoonen
authors: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Section clinical psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO+ institute for Health Care and Research, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cuijpers
authors: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Section clinical psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO+ institute for Health Care and Research, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: C J M
authors: CJ
authors: Holtmaat
authors: EMGO+ institute for Health Care and Research, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: L B
authors: LB
authors: Mokkink
authors: National Institute for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Acton, Canberra, Australia.
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Griffiths
authors: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Section clinical psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|EMGO+ institute for Health Care and Research, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Kleiboer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult