Translating and Testing the Validation of the Arabic Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale

Omar Al Omari; Yousef Abu Shindi; Sulaiman Al Sabei; Mohammad Al Qadire; Iman Al Hashmi; Atika Khalaf

doi:10.18502/ijps.v18i3.13007

Omar Al Omari College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Yousef Abu Shindi College of Education, Psychology Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Sulaiman Al Sabei College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Mohammad Al Qadire College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Iman Al Hashmi College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Atika Khalaf College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v18i3.13007

Keywords: Adolescents; Mental Health; Oman; Social Stigma

Abstract

Objective: Attitudes toward mental difficulties are influenced by culture, and different cultural backgrounds have different effects on people's behavior. This study aimed to prepare the Arabic version of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale (PMHSS) and validate it among Omani adolescents.

Method: The study was conducted from October 2020 to the end of February 2021. The 24-items PMHSS was translated into Arabic and tested in a sample of 369 adolescents from different governmental schools in Oman. Both exploratory factor analysis (a principal component analysis (PCA) technique with Varimax rotation) and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to examine the construct validity of the PMHSS.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the construct validity of the PMHSS. Cronbach’s α was 0.86 for the total scale and 0.84 and 0.81 for awareness and agreement, respectively. Therefore, the goodness-of fit-indicators support the two-correlated factor 16-item model to measure stigma (χ2 / df = 2.64 (p > 0.001), GFI = 0.92, AGFI = 0.89, CFI = 0.90, IFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.067).

Conclusion: The Arabic version of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale (PMHSS) could assess adolescents’ stigmatizing attitudes toward various types of mental health problems within the Arabic context, and it can be utilized by researchers in Arab countries to screen for stigmatizing attitudes and to suggest suitable, effective, and outcome-focused interventions based on its results.