The Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness 8-Items (SSCI-8) in Patients with Neurological Disorders

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a Korean version of the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness 8-items (SSCI-8) and then assess its reliability and construct validity among patients with neurological conditions. Method: Patients diagnosed with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were recruited. Reliability was assessed for internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to extract potential factors of Korean SSCI-8. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating scores on the Korean SSCI-8 with scores for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory, anxiety using Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and functional ability using the Korean modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), respectively. Results: Of the total 202 patients enrolled in this study, 119 (58.9 %) were recruited with stroke, 33 (16.3 %) with Parkinson’s disease, and 29 (14.4 %) with epilepsy. The Korean SSCI-8 had a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90). The Korean SSCI-8 retrieved one factor from eight items by the EFA, and all factor loading scores were above 0.70 (0.71–0.84). The Korean SSCI-8 was correlated positively with depression (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), and negatively with the K-MBI (r = −0.48, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that the Korean SSCI-8 is a unidimensional model, even though it includes items of both enacted and internalized stigma. It is both reliable and valid for assessing stigma among Korean patients with neurological disease.