Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the DISCUS (DISC-Ultra Short), a measure which assesses experienced discrimination among persons with mental disorders. Methods: Data collected in the three Italian sites (Brescia, Napoli, and Verona) participating at the international project INDIGO-DISCUS. Each Italian site recruited a sample of 50 individuals. Participants were evaluated with the DISCUS. This study evaluated: (a) reliability (internal consistency), (b) validity (convergent and divergent), (c) precision, and (d) acceptability. Participants were also asked to complete three additional measures: Stigma Consciousness, Brief Stigma Coping/Stigma Stress, and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-10). Results: Overall, 149 people participated; 55% were males, with mean age of 48 (±12.4) years and on average participants had 12 (±3.4) years of education; only 23% were employed. Internal consistency was found to be good (Cronbach α=0.79). Convergent validity was confirmed (all correlations between DISCUS score and the other measures' scores were greater than 0.30). There was evidence of divergent validity, as the overall DISCUS score was not associated with the variable "sex". Precision showed a high correlation coefficient between the various items and the overall DISCUS score, with only one exception (discrimination when looking for housing), which showed a particularly high frequency of "not applicable" responses. Acceptability [measured with Maximum Endorsement Frequencies (MEF) and Aggregate adjacent Endorsement Frequencies (AEF)] was found to be fair (MEF violated in 2 items; AEF partially violated in 5 item). Conclusions: The Italian version of the DISCUS is a reliable, valid, precise, and acceptable measure of experienced discrimination to be used in large scale studies in the evaluation of anti-stigma initiatives in Italy.
Scopo. Testare le proprietà psicometriche della versione italiana del DISCUS (DISC-Ultra Short), scala di valutazione della discriminazione sperimentata nelle persone con disturbi mentali. Metodi. Studio condotto nei tre centri italiani (Brescia, Napoli e Verona) partecipanti al progetto multicentrico internazionale INDIGO-DISCUS. Ogni centro italiano ha reclutato 50 pazienti. I partecipanti sono stati valutati mediante la scala DISCUS. Ai pazienti sono stati somministrati altri tre strumenti: Stigma Consciousness, Brief Stigma Coping/Stigma Stress e Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-10). Sono state valutate: a) attendibilità (consistenza interna), b) validità (convergente e divergente), c) precisione e d) accettabilità. Risultati. Hanno partecipato 149 pazienti, il 55% di sesso maschile con un’età media di 48 (±12,4) anni, con almeno 12 (±3,4) anni di scolarità e solo nel 23% dei casi con un’occupazione lavorativa. La consistenza interna della scala completa è risultata buona (α di Cronbach=0,79). La validità convergente è risultata anch’essa buona (con correlazioni tra il punteggio complessivo DISCUS e quelli degli altri strumenti superiori al valore soglia di 0,30). La validità divergente è stata confermata, mostrando che il punteggio DISCUS non è associato alla variabile sesso. La precisione mostra correlazioni item-punteggio totale tutte molto elevate, a eccezione di un unico item (discriminazione nel cercare casa), che risulta problematico a causa dell’elevata frequenza di risposte “Non applicabile”. L’accettabilità [misurata con Maximum Endorsement Frequencies (MEF) e Aggregate adjacent Endorsement Frequencies (AEF)] è risultata discreta (MEF violato da 2 item; AEF parzialmente violato da 5 item). Conclusioni. La versione italiana del DISCUS è uno strumento valido, attendibile, preciso e accettabile da usare su larga scala in iniziative di valutazione di progetti anti-stigma nel nostro Paese.
Validazione italiana della scala DISCUS (DISC-Ultra Short), uno strumento standardizzato breve per valutare la discriminazione sperimentata nelle persone con disturbi mentali. [Validation of the Italian version of the DISCUS (DISC-Ultra Short), a brief standardized scale for assessing experienced discrimination among people with mental disorders.]
Lasalvia, Antonio
;Ingrosso, Nicoletta;Bonetto, Chiara
2023-01-01
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the DISCUS (DISC-Ultra Short), a measure which assesses experienced discrimination among persons with mental disorders. Methods: Data collected in the three Italian sites (Brescia, Napoli, and Verona) participating at the international project INDIGO-DISCUS. Each Italian site recruited a sample of 50 individuals. Participants were evaluated with the DISCUS. This study evaluated: (a) reliability (internal consistency), (b) validity (convergent and divergent), (c) precision, and (d) acceptability. Participants were also asked to complete three additional measures: Stigma Consciousness, Brief Stigma Coping/Stigma Stress, and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-10). Results: Overall, 149 people participated; 55% were males, with mean age of 48 (±12.4) years and on average participants had 12 (±3.4) years of education; only 23% were employed. Internal consistency was found to be good (Cronbach α=0.79). Convergent validity was confirmed (all correlations between DISCUS score and the other measures' scores were greater than 0.30). There was evidence of divergent validity, as the overall DISCUS score was not associated with the variable "sex". Precision showed a high correlation coefficient between the various items and the overall DISCUS score, with only one exception (discrimination when looking for housing), which showed a particularly high frequency of "not applicable" responses. Acceptability [measured with Maximum Endorsement Frequencies (MEF) and Aggregate adjacent Endorsement Frequencies (AEF)] was found to be fair (MEF violated in 2 items; AEF partially violated in 5 item). Conclusions: The Italian version of the DISCUS is a reliable, valid, precise, and acceptable measure of experienced discrimination to be used in large scale studies in the evaluation of anti-stigma initiatives in Italy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.