Development of a Scale for Measuring Self-stigma of Seeking Help from Informal Source

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to develop a scale to measure self-stigma associated with seeking help from informal sources. The participants included 300 university students who answered questions about self-stigma, help-seeking intentions, anticipated costs and benefits, help-seeking preferences, and subjective needs. The results of principal component analysis showed that the scale of self-stigma had a one-dimensional factor structure. As predicted, self-stigma correlated with help-seeking intentions, help-seeking preferences, and anticipated costs and benefits. These correlations were stronger than that between self-stigma and intentions to seek professional help. Finally, self-stigma among men was more intense than women. These results supported the hypothesis and the validity of the scale.