A Psychometric Validation of the Employers' Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Cancer Survivors Scale.

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement structure of the Employers' Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Cancer Survivors Scale (ESATPD-Cancer Scale). Methods A quantitative descriptive design using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). One hundred and seventy-seven Taiwanese human resources (HR) professionals participated in this study. Results EFA revealed a one-factor measurement structure accounting for 50% of the total variance. We conducted a CFA to confirm the one-factor structure; after two pairs of error terms were correlated, the re-specified model was found to fit the data adequately: χ2/df = 1.69, GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.98, and RMSEA = 0.06. Internal consistency reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) for the ESATPD-Cancer Scale was computed to be 0.80. In addition, stigmatizing attitudes were found to be negatively associated with HR professionals' willingness to hire cancer survivors. Conclusions The results of this study support a one-factor measurement structure for the ESATPD-Cancer Scale in a sample of HR professionals in Taiwan. Findings also support a relationship between ESATPD-Cancer Scale scores and HR professionals' willingness to hire cancer survivors, demonstrating support for the construct validity of the scale.