Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer

Introduction: Apart from the fact that breast cancer patients experience self-blame and stigmatisation, their families may also face discrimination and societal rejection due to prevailing myths, misconceptions and causal beliefs related to breast cancer. Although a scale has been introduced to meas...

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Main Authors: Xiaofan Bu, Xi Chen, Lu Luo, Rongrong Fan, Ling Jiang, Xiangyu Liu, Doris Y.P. Leung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524003572
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author Xiaofan Bu
Xi Chen
Lu Luo
Rongrong Fan
Ling Jiang
Xiangyu Liu
Doris Y.P. Leung
author_facet Xiaofan Bu
Xi Chen
Lu Luo
Rongrong Fan
Ling Jiang
Xiangyu Liu
Doris Y.P. Leung
author_sort Xiaofan Bu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Apart from the fact that breast cancer patients experience self-blame and stigmatisation, their families may also face discrimination and societal rejection due to prevailing myths, misconceptions and causal beliefs related to breast cancer. Although a scale has been introduced to measure affiliate stigma in caregivers of cancer patients, it has not yet been psychometrically tested. This study aims to develop and validate a measurement tool that is sensitive to the affiliate stigma experienced by caregivers of women with breast cancer. Methods: The scale was developed in two phases: (a) item generation based on interviews amongst 18 caregivers of women with breast cancer; (b) psychometric properties of the scale, including content validity, structural validity, and internal consistency reliability. Data were collected from May to June 2023 in 426 caregivers of women with breast cancer from 5 tertiary A hospitals. Findings: An exploratory factor analysis produced a 24-item scale across four dimensions. The scale also showed good internal consistency and test–retest reliabilities. The total score of the scale was significantly and positively correlated with scores in caregiving burden and negatively correlated with scores in self-esteem and in social support. The item-level content validity index fell within the range of 0.8–1.0. Interpretation: The is a valid and reliable instrument to assess affiliate stigma status amongst caregivers of women with breast cancer and may serve as a unique instrument that can be used globally. The scale captured the spectrum of stigma relevant to caregivers of women with breast cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-2ac4654f629549ad968bf137b4bfd2da2025-08-20T02:43:29ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific2666-60652025-02-015510136310.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101363Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancerXiaofan Bu0Xi Chen1Lu Luo2Rongrong Fan3Ling Jiang4Xiangyu Liu5Doris Y.P. Leung6School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaThe Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan Province and the Loudi First People's Hospital, ChinaWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, ChinaSuzhou Municipal Hospital, ChinaHunan Cancer Hospital/The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaIntroduction: Apart from the fact that breast cancer patients experience self-blame and stigmatisation, their families may also face discrimination and societal rejection due to prevailing myths, misconceptions and causal beliefs related to breast cancer. Although a scale has been introduced to measure affiliate stigma in caregivers of cancer patients, it has not yet been psychometrically tested. This study aims to develop and validate a measurement tool that is sensitive to the affiliate stigma experienced by caregivers of women with breast cancer. Methods: The scale was developed in two phases: (a) item generation based on interviews amongst 18 caregivers of women with breast cancer; (b) psychometric properties of the scale, including content validity, structural validity, and internal consistency reliability. Data were collected from May to June 2023 in 426 caregivers of women with breast cancer from 5 tertiary A hospitals. Findings: An exploratory factor analysis produced a 24-item scale across four dimensions. The scale also showed good internal consistency and test–retest reliabilities. The total score of the scale was significantly and positively correlated with scores in caregiving burden and negatively correlated with scores in self-esteem and in social support. The item-level content validity index fell within the range of 0.8–1.0. Interpretation: The is a valid and reliable instrument to assess affiliate stigma status amongst caregivers of women with breast cancer and may serve as a unique instrument that can be used globally. The scale captured the spectrum of stigma relevant to caregivers of women with breast cancer.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524003572
spellingShingle Xiaofan Bu
Xi Chen
Lu Luo
Rongrong Fan
Ling Jiang
Xiangyu Liu
Doris Y.P. Leung
Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
title Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
title_full Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
title_fullStr Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
title_short Affiliate stigma scale: a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
title_sort affiliate stigma scale a reliable and valid stigma measure for caregivers of women with breast cancer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524003572
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