Validation of hindi version of internalized stigma of mental illness scale

Abstract

Aims: To develop a Hindi translated version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale and evaluate its psychometric properties (test-retest validity, internal consistency, split half reliability, and cross-language equivalence), convergent validity and factor structure. Methodology: The study included 161 patients with severe mental disorders. Thirty-one patients were asked to complete the Hindi version of the ISMI Scale twice within a gap of 4-7 days. Another thirty patients were asked to complete the ISMI Hindi version followed by the English version after 4-7 days. Remaining hundred patients completed the Hindi version of ISMI Scale and Explanatory Model Interview Catalog (EMIC) Stigma Scale was administered by the interviewer at the same assessment. Results: Hindi version of ISMI Scale was found to have a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha was 0.863), split-half reliability (Spearman-Brown coefficient-0.661; Guttmann's split-half coefficient-0.645), test-retest reliability and cross-language equivalence for all the items and various domains with almost all the correlations and intraclass coefficients significant atP< 0.001, and convergent validity in the form of significant correlations with EMIC Stigma Scale. Factor analysis of the scale yielded five factors, which had significant overlap with the five domains of the scale described by the developer of the scale. Conclusions: The present study suggests that Hindi version of ISMI Scale developed as a part of this study has good psychometric properties.