Validity of the Personal Suicide Stigma Questionnaire in a Community Sample
File version
Author(s)
Shand, Fiona
Mok, Katherine
Hawgood, Jacinta
O'Gorman, John
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
The Personal Suicide Stigma Questionnaire (PSSQ) is a new scale assessing the experience of stigma in those who have been suicidal. This study examined the construct validity of the scale using a sample of participants from the general community who reported being suicidal at some point in their lives (N = 3,947). The Distress Questionnaire – 5 and the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale were used to assess the severity of distress and suicidality. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed a three-factor model (Rejection, Minimization, Self-Blame) with one general Personal Stigma factor influencing the three first-order factors, which best fit the data. Scalar invariance was reached for both age and gender. The same factor structure was maintained when the format of the scale was altered for a subsample to provide a “not applicable” option for each item. PSSQ total score remained a significant predictor of distress after suicidality and demographic variables were accounted for. The PSSQ and its subscales can be used for the assessment of personal suicide stigma.
Journal Title
European Journal of Psychological Assessment
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
This publication has been entered as an advanced online version in Griffith Research Online.
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Health services and systems
Public health
Criminology
Sociology
Psychology
Biochemistry and cell biology
Clinical sciences
Neurosciences
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Rimkeviciene, J; Shand, F; Mok, K; Hawgood, J; O'Gorman, J, Validity of the Personal Suicide Stigma Questionnaire in a Community Sample, European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2021