Children of parents with a mental illness – stigma questionnaire: validation and revision
Introduction: Mental disorders are often stigmatized in society. The stigma of mental illness affects people with a mental illness themselves as well as their family members—a phenomenon called stigma by association (SBA). Children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are a particular vulnera...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Philipps-Universität Marburg
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | PDF Full Text |
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| Summary: | Introduction: Mental disorders are often stigmatized in society. The stigma of
mental illness affects people with a mental illness themselves as well as their
family members—a phenomenon called stigma by association (SBA). Children of
parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are a particular vulnerable group for SBA. In
our systematic review, experienced SBA, anticipated SBA, affiliate SBA, and
structural discrimination were identified as relevant stigma dimensions for
children of parents with a mental illness. To assess SBA in adolescents who
grow up with a parent with a mental illness, the COPMI-SQ was developed.
Methods: N = 930 adolescents completed the study. Of those, N = 380
adolescents (sample 1; 72.6% female, mean age 17.12 (SD = 2.01) years)
reported growing up with at least one parent with a mental illness. Using
confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) as well as standard
item and reliability analyses, we analyzed and revised the COPMI-SQ in the first
sample. To validate the factorial structure of the revised COPMI-SQ, CFA was
also conducted in the independent sample of the other N = 550 adolescents
(sample 2; 80.0% female, mean age 16.36 (SD = 1.98) years) who reported not
growing up with a parent with a mental illness. To test four measurement
invariance, a multiple-group CFA was conducted in the combined sample of
adolescents who reported growing up with and without a parent with a mental
illness (sample 1 and sample 2).
Results: CFA in sample 1 resulted in an inadequate model fit for the theoretically
assumed four-factor structure (CFI = .687; RMSEA = .064 (90% CI = .062–.066);
SRMR = .092; AIC = 229 155.63). Following EFA and item and reliability analyses in
sample 1, the COPMI-SQ was reduced to four scales (“Experienced SBA,” “Affiliate
SBA,” “Shame,” and “Anticipated SBA”) and two additional screening scales
(“Healthcare” and “Social support”). To facilitate questionnaire use, only the
three best items were retained in each scale, reducing the total item number
to 12 plus five additional screener items. CFA in sample 2 also resulted in an
inadequate model fit for the theoretically assumed four factor structure (CFI =
.667; RMSEA = .065 (90% CI = .063–.066); SRMR = .101; AIC = 335 651.99). In
comparison, the final version of the COPMI-SQ-r showed the best model fit
(CFI = .945; RMSEA = .062 (90% CI = .052–.072); SRMR = .049; AIC = 60 008.05).
In the multiple-group CFA (sample 1 and sample 2), metric invariance was established (c2 (208) = 481.58, p < .001; CFI = .939; RMSEA = .053 (90% CI = .047-
.059); SRMR = .056). In sample 2, internal consistency was found to be good for
the total scale (a = .84) and almost acceptable to almost good for the subscales
(a = .64 to.78).
Discussion: The revised version of the COPMI-SQ (COPMI-SQ-r) is a reliable and
economic questionnaire to assess SBA in adolescents who grow up with a parent
with a mental illness. The COPMI-SQ-r can be used to help develop and evaluate
anti-stigma and general interventions for affected adolescents. |
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| Item Description: | Gefördert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der UB Marburg. |
| Physical Description: | 15 Pages |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1376627 |