Social Desirability Scale Research Articles

Determinants of Students’ Attitudes Toward People With Physical-Motor Disability

Objective: This study examined the role of social desirability, self-esteem, and some demographic variables in predicting university students’ attitudes toward people with physical-motor disabilities. Methods: The participants in this cross-sectional study were 300 students of Kurdistan University, Sanandaj city, Iran, selected using convenience sampling. The students completed the items in the Google forms of the Marlowe-Crowne social desirability scale (MC-SDS), Rosenberg self-esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965b), a demographic information form, and the multidimensional attitudes scale towards persons with disability (MAS). The collected data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical linear regression analysis in SPSS software v. 23. Results: The results showed significant attitudinal differences in students with different demographic characteristics except for gender and education (P<0.05). In addition, social desirability and self-esteem were stronger predictors of the students’ attitudes toward people with physical-motor disability than each variable alone (P>0.05). Conclusion: Various demographic variables and other factors like self-esteem and social desirability affect students’ attitudes toward people with physical-motor disabilities. A key implication of the present study is that the role of tested variables could differ depending on cognitive, affect, and behavioral dimensions of attitudes. Researchers must pay attention to this point in future studies.

Parenting styles and dimensions of emerging adulthood in yoga and nonyoga practitioners

Background: Career choice in engineering, especially in India, is determined by many factors such as parental influence and other inherent traits of students. Understanding the factors that are associated with self-regulated, choiceful decision-making in a career choice is essential to build better human resources. Early yoga practice may influence certain inherent traits, which can enable autonomous decision-making. Hence, exploration of those psychological factors is attempted in this study. Aim: This study aims to explore the parenting styles and dimensions of emerging adulthood among yoga and nonyoga practitioners. Methods: From an engineering college in South India, 311 first-semester students were recruited for the study. The Free will and Determinism Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood, the 13-item short form of the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and the Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale were administered. Results: The students were divided into two categories, yoga practitioners and nonyoga practitioners. We performed Pearson's partial correlation between various variables across these two groups, controlling for social desirability scores. Overall, the magnitude of the correlations was low to moderate. Conclusion: There are a few dimensions of emerging adulthood that have desirable outcome trends, both in yoga and nonyoga practitioners. Distinct features of yoga practitioners are students who exercise inner free will, and with autonomy-supportive parenting style tend to have a positive outlook. Therefore, yoga may promote self-regulated ways of inner growth and learning in emerging adults.

The Development and Validation Of The Islamic Gratitude Scale (IGS-10)

There were not many adequate instruments to measure gratitude for the Indonesian people, especially the Muslim community. The purpose of this study is to develop the Islamic Gratitude Scale (IGS-10) by conducted an adequate set of tests. A total of 1218 respondents from students and workers participated on this study. This study found that the Islamic Gratitude Scale (IGS-10) has a good reliability (α= 0.863), good content validity and good factorial validity. The exploratory factor analysis found that IGS-10 has two factors, extrinsic gratitude (α= 0.845) and intrinsic gratitude (α= 0.761). Several sets of correlation tests found that IGS-10 has a good convergent validity, IGS-10 correlates with the Gratitude Questionerre (GQ-6), Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Scale - Short Form (GRAT-SF), and gratitude toward God. Furthermore, IGS-10 correlated with Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire - Appearance Scale (MBSRQ - US), and subjective well-being. This finding indicated that IGS-10 has a good cirterion-related validity. But unfortunately, IGS-10 did not correlate with Adolescents’ Self-concept Short Scale (ASCSS), optimism scale (LOT-R) and The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). IGS-10 was associated with Social Desirability Scale (SDS) with low correlation. To develop this scale the next process that can be done is norming, so that the IGS-10 will become a scale that can be used widely and more convincingly.

An investigation of the relationship between school counselor trainees’ broaching behavior and their racial identity attitudes

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between the racial identity attitudes and broaching behavior in a sample of 198 trainees matriculating in school counseling programs. Respondents completed the Broaching Attitudes and Behavior Survey, the Cross Ethnic‐Racial Identity Scale‐Adult, Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and a demographic survey. Findings demonstrated that trainees with lower levels of racial identity functioning (RIF) endorsed Avoidant broaching attitudes and behaviors, and trainees with higher levels of RIF endorsed more Infusing broaching attitudes and behaviors.

Experimental auction confirmation that social desirability bias does not predict willingness to pay for eco-labeled goods

Abstract It is often assumed that consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for eco-labeled products in research settings is not because of a desire for environmental protection, but rather that they are socially compelled to make decisions that reflects favorably on them, limiting the validity of findings. Using a second-price Vickrey experimental auction, this study found higher WTP for an eco-labeled product than a comparable good, but that social desirability bias, measured by the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale, was not a significant predictor of WTP. Instead, environmental consciousness, environmental knowledge, education, and available information were stronger predictors of WTP for eco-labeled goods.

The development of positive attitudes toward mental health among university nursing students: Countering the role of social desirability

This study analyses the evolution of attitudes of nursing students towards mental health, paying particular attention to the influence of social desirability. Prospective longitudinal repeated-measures study in a sample of nursing students who completed the Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness scale and The Social Desirability Scale. After their training, and after adjusting for social desirability, students of female gender recognized attitudes that foster humanistic values than their male counterparts. However, attitudes of restrictiveness and authoritarianism continued to be manifested significantly when the students themselves had mental health problems (MHPs), had had previous training, or were older. University courses should continue to foster attitudes of acceptance and destigmatization of people with MHPs, through responses that value authenticity.

Driver social desirability scale: A Turkish adaptation and examination in the driving context

Self-report data collection methods are widely used techniques to gather information in studies related to road safety. One of the most considerable limitations of self-reports is social desirability bias. One way to overcome the possible detrimental effects of socially desirable responding is to control it by using social desirability scales. With respect to that, the present study aims to adapt the Driver Social Desirability Scale into Turkish, examine its construct validity, and investigate the relationship between social desirability and driving-related measures. A total of 351 drivers between the ages of 19 and 59 completed a questionnaire including a demographic information form, the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), the Driver Skill Inventory (DSI), the Two-Dimensional Social Desirability Scale (SDS), and the Driver Social Desirability Scale (DSDS). Factor analysis supported the two-factor structure of the DSDS in the Turkish sample. Social desirability correlated positively with age and driving experience. Female drivers reported higher levels of driver impression management, while male drivers scored higher on self-deception. Driver impression management was associated negatively with violations and perceptual-motor skills and positively with safety skills. Lastly, driver self-deception was positively related to violations, positive driver behaviors, perceptual-motor skills, and safety skills. The study shows that the Turkish version of the DSDS is a reliable and structurally valid instrument with incremental validity compared to the general social desirability measure in predicting driving-related outcomes.

Development and validity of the Value-based Stigma Inventory (VASI): a value-sensitive questionnaire for the assessment of mental health stigma

BackgroundIt has been hypothesized that mental illness stigma differs according to what matters most to people, and that this results in value-based differences in stigma within societies. However, there is a lack of stigma measures that account for a broad range of values, including modern and liberal values.MethodsFor the development of the Value-based Stigma Inventory (VASI) a preliminary item-pool of 68 VASI-items was assembled by mental health and stigma experts. For psychometric evaluation, we tested the VASI in an online sample of the general population (n = 4983).ResultsBased on item-characteristics as well as explorative and confirmatory factor analyses, a final version of the VASI was developed, comprising 15 items and 5 subscales. The VASI shows good psychometric properties (item difficulty = 0.34 to 0.67; mean inter-item correlation r = 0.326; Cronbach’s α = 0.879). Medium to high correlations with established stigma scales (SDS, SSMI), medium associations with instruments assessing personal values (PVQ, KSA-3) and small to no associations with a social desirability scale (KSE-G) attest to good convergent and discriminatory validity of the new instrument. Normative values for the VASI subscales are presented.ConclusionsThe developed VASI can be used to assess public stigma of mental illness including personal stigma-relevant value orientations.

Development of a tool to measure holistic reflection in midwifery students and midwives

BackgroundHolistic reflection encompasses reflection as a continuum, incorporating critical reflection, reflexivity, critical thinking and a whole-of-person approach. The development of holistic reflection in midwifery students and midwives is rarely measured in a standardised way. AimTo develop and test a tool to measure holistic reflection in midwifery students and midwives, for use in pre-registration and post-graduate education, and research. DesignThe eight-step approach to tool development by DeVellis was followed with psychometric testing of data from a cross-sectional survey. ParticipantsMidwifery students (pre-registration and postgraduate), and midwifery alumni of an Australian university. MethodsDraft items (n = 84) were generated from review of the literature, qualitative research, and a theoretical model. An expert panel (n = 19) reviewed draft items resulting in 39 items. The survey included demographic details, the draft Holistic Reflection Assessment Tool, emotional intelligence subscale, and a social desirability scale. Participants repeated the online survey at two weeks to confirm test-retest reliability. ResultsThe 187 responses were received. Exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation revealed three factors accounting for 49% of variance. Internal consistency of the tool was high (α = .91) and test-retest reliability at two weeks (α = .93) demonstrated stability. There were low correlations between social desirability (r = .22, p < .001) and emotional intelligence (r = .21, p < .001) with the new holistic reflection scale. ConclusionsThe Holistic Reflection Assessment Tool is the first for midwifery. The tool was reliable, stable, and valid. Further research is warranted for criterion validity.

Eating Behaviour among University Students: Relationships with Age, Socioeconomic Status, Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, Waist-to-Height Ratio and Social Desirability.

Eating behaviour is of particular interest for research focusing on body weight status. However, little is known about the relationships of certain factors, especially social desirability, with self-reported eating behaviour such as cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating among young adult males and females. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between eating behaviour and age, socioeconomic status (SES), physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and social desirability among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 353 university students (59.2% females). Eating behaviour was assessed using the 13-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-13). SES and PA were determined using self-reporting, and the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale assessed social desirability. BMI and WHtR were calculated based on measured parameters. Associations between self-reported eating behaviour and other variables were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multivariate general linear models. Cognitive restraint was positively correlated with BMI and WHtR in both males (r = 0.174, P = 0.036 and r = 0.194, P = 0.020, respectively) and females (r = 0.239, P < 0.001 and r = 0.165, P = 0.017, respectively), and emotional eating was positively correlated with BMI among females (r = 0.184, P = 0.008). Social desirability was negatively correlated with uncontrolled eating (r = −0.287, P < 0.001) and emotional eating (r = −0.301, P < 0.001) among females. There were no significant correlations between eating behaviour and age or socioeconomic status (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that, among males, PA had a main effect on emotional eating (ηp2 = 0.044, F = 6.276, P = 0.013). Among females, cognitive restraint was positively associated with PA (ηp2 = 0.034, F = 7.127, P = 0.008) and BMI (ηp2 = 0.038, F = 7.959, P = 0.005), and emotional eating with BMI (ηp2 = 0.032, F = 6.638, P = 0.011). Social desirability had the highest main effect on eating behaviour among females, being negatively associated with uncontrolled eating (ηp2 = 0.077, F = 16.754, P < 0.001) and emotional eating (ηp2 = 0.082, F = 18.046, P < 0.001). This study showed that PA, BMI, WHtR, and social desirability were associated with self-reported eating behaviour among university students. Social desirability bias should be considered when evaluating uncontrolled eating and emotional eating among females.

Measuring social desirability bias: Do the full and short versions of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale matter?

Given the sensitive nature of ethics research, the presence of social desirability bias (SDB) threatens the validity of research findings. As ethics studies often overlook this bias, we aimed to provide evidence that SDB varies across individual and situational factors. We thus investigated the influence of socio-demographic factors and survey modes on SDB. A total of 348 working adults were randomly chosen to participate in either an on-line or off-line survey containing eight versions of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability (MCSD) scale. The reliabilities for the eight versions ranged from 0.35 to 0.81. Statistical tests revealed that different socio-demographic factors influence different versions of the MCSD scale. The results also showed that using on-line surveys minimizes SDB. This study provides practical implications and suggestions for future research.

Socially desirable responding in geriatric outpatients with and without mild cognitive impairment and its association with the assessment of self-reported mental health

BackgroundSocially desirable responding is a potentially relevant issue in older adults and can be evaluated with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). However, the eight-item MCSDS has never been specifically administered to geriatric subjects, and there is a dearth of literature on the relationship between social desirability and cognitive impairment. Also, the connection between social desirability and subjective measures of psychological well-being is a matter of controversy. This study has three main aims. First, to determine the psychometric properties of the eight-item MCSDS in geriatric outpatients without dementia (i.e. with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)). Second, to investigate the link between social desirability and cognitive functioning. Third, to determine the association between social desirability and the assessment of self-reported mental health.MethodsCommunity-dwelling outpatients (aged ≥ 65) were consecutively recruited and neuropsychologically tested to diagnose NC or MCI (n = 299). Social desirability was assessed with the eight-item MCSDS. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured with the short Geriatric Depression (GDS-s) and the State-Trait Personality Inventory Trait Anxiety (STPI-TA) scales.ResultsOn principal components analysis, the eight-item MCSDS was found to have a multidimensional structure. Of the initial three-component solution, only two subscales had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.6): “Acceptance of responsibility” and “Integrity”. The third subscale (“Kindness towards others”) appeared to gauge two distinct constructs of formal (i.e. politeness) versus substantive (i.e. forgiveness) compassion. On binary logistic regression, only higher income was a significant predictor of formal compassion. Test-retest reliability was substantial to excellent (Gwet’s AC2 ≥ 0.8). There were no meaningful differences in social desirability between the NC and MCI groups. Likewise, negative Spearman’s correlations between social desirability and cognitive Z-scores across the whole sample were weak (rs < |0.3|) and confined to one MCSDS item. Although social desirability was an independent predictor of the STPI-TA score in multiple linear regression, it explained only a marginal amount of incremental variance in anxiety symptoms (less than 2%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that social desirability need not be a major concern when using questionnaires to assess mental health in geriatric outpatients without dementia.

Are social desirability scales desirable? A meta‐analytic test of the validity of social desirability scales in the context of prosocial behavior

Social desirability (SD) scales have been used for decades in psychology and beyond. These scales are sought to measure individuals' tendencies to present themselves overly positive in self-reports, thus allowing to control for SD biases. However, research increasingly questions the validity of SD scales, proposing that SD scales measure substantive trait characteristics rather than response bias. To provide a large-scale empirical test of the validity of SD scales, we conducted a meta-analysis (k=41; N=8980) on the relation between SD scale scores and prosocial behavior in economic games (where acting in a prosocial manner is highly socially desirable). If SD scales measure what they are supposed to (namely, SD bias), they should be negatively linked to prosocial behavior; if SD scales measure socially desirable traits, they should be positively linked to prosocial behavior. Unlike both possibilities, the meta-analytic correlation between SD scores and prosocial behavior was close to zero, suggesting that SD scales neither clearly measure bias nor substantive traits. This conclusion was also supported by moderation analyses considering differences in the implementation of games and the SD scales used. The results further question the validity of SD scales with the implication that scholars and practitioners should refrain from using them.

When does social desirability become a problem? Detection and reduction of social desirability bias in information systems research

Social desirability (SD) bias occurs in self-report surveys when subjects give socially desirable responses by over- or underreporting their behavior. Despite knowledge of SD as a potential threat to the validity of information systems (IS) research, little has been done to systematically assess its extent. Furthermore, we are uncertain of how to recover reliable estimates of the relationships between research variables contaminated by SD bias. We sought in this study to assess the extent of SD bias in causal inferences when independent and/or dependent variables are contaminated. We also evaluated whether an SD scale in conjunction with partial correlation could effectively and efficiently correct SD bias when it is found. To achieve these purposes, we designed a survey study and collected data from Amazon's Mechanical Turk in the context of mobile loafing, which refers to employees’ personal use of the mobile Internet during business hours. Using various detection methods, we found that SD bias existed in the context of mobile loafing. From the results of the variance reduction rate and a covariate technique, we found that SD bias becomes problematic when both the independent and dependent variables are susceptible to SD bias. Overall, our study contributes significantly to the IS literature by revealing the extent of SD bias and the magnitude of the possible correction for it in IS research.

Adaptation of the Marlowe‒Crowne Social Desirability Scale Short Form C to the Turkish Culture: Validity and Reliability Study

Adaptation of the Marlowe‒Crowne Social Desirability Scale Short Form C to the Turkish Culture: Validity and Reliability Study

Validity and reliability of the Greek version of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory for patients with chronic pain

Background/aims The Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory has been used widely to evaluate pain perceptions and beliefs of patients with chronic pain. This is a cross-cultural adaptation of the instrument into Greek. The purpose of the study was to investigate: the face and content validity; the factor structure; the concurrent validity; the discriminant validity; and the internal consistency and the test–retest reliability of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory for people with chronic pain. Methods A total of 174 patients with chronic low back pain, neck pain and/or pain of limbs lasting for at least 6 months and with a physiotherapy referral participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis by a principal axis factoring with direct oblimin rotation was chosen to examine the factor structure of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory. The concurrent validity was assessed using correlations by Spearman's rho correlation coefficient among the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory and the Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Present Pain Index, the visual analogue scale and the Brief Pain Inventory. The discriminant validity was examined by Spearman's rho correlation coefficient among the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory and Social Desirability Scale. The reliability of the instrument was examined using Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the four factor structure of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory that explained 66.353% of the total variance. Concurrent validity was determined through examination of correlations between the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory and other validated constructs (eg Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire Affective factor with Total Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory Spearman's rho=0.257, P&lt;0.001, Brief Pain Inventory General Activity and Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory Constancy factor Spearman's rho=0.522, P&lt;0.05, Brief Pain Inventory relations with other people and Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory Constancy factor Spearman's rho=0.512, P&lt;0.05). The discriminant validity of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory was confirmed by examining correlations between the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory with the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale. The questionnaire was internally consistent (α=0.89–0.96) and its stability was good (intraclass correlation coefficients=0.73–0.82). Conclusions The Greek translation of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate Greek patients with chronic pain.

Development and validation of the self-efficacy for medical communication scale.

12124 Background: Most studies of clinician-patient communication use scales created ad hoc with unknown validity. To provide a standard measure for future studies, we developed and validated a new scale of clinician-reported skills in communicating difficult news: the Self-Efficacy for Medical Communication (SEMC) scale. Methods: Using evidence-based scale development guidelines, we created 16 items sampling a range of communication skills, including “Disclose difficult news in manageable chunks, so the patient is not overwhelmed,” and “Determine how to present information based on the patient’s emotional state.” Items are rated on Likert scales from 1 ( cannot do at all) to 10 ( highly certain can do). We constructed two forms—one assessing communication with patients and one with family—using identical items but replacing “patient” with “family/caregiver.” We examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the SEMC (correlations with similar and dissimilar measures) as well as its reliability and factor structure. A total of 221 clinicians working in oncology settings (physicians, nurses, medical students) completed measures online. Convergent measures included medical communication items from past studies; the Self-Perceived Communication Competence Scale to measure communication ability outside the medical realm; and the General Self-Efficacy and Occupational Self-Efficacy scales to measure overall self-efficacy/confidence. Discriminant measures included the Ten Item Personality Inventory to measure personality factors; the Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure job burnout; and the Satisfaction with Life Scale to measure well-being. Finally, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability (MCSD) scale measured motivation to “look good” in responding to survey questions. Results: Mean scores were similar for the patient (126.36) and family (127.09) forms (max score 160), both with excellent reliability ( alphas =.94,.96, respectively). Because these forms were almost perfectly correlated ( r =.95, p &lt;.001), we used only the patient form in subsequent analyses. Factor analysis demonstrated that the SEMC measures a unitary construct ( eigenvalue = 9.0). Its mean correlation was higher with convergent ( r =.46) than discriminant measures ( r =.22), supporting its validity. Moreover, its correlation with the MCSD was small ( r =.28) and no larger than between the MCSD and other measures, indicating minimal social-desirability effects. Finally, no differences emerged for gender or profession; higher scores did correlate with age ( r =.29, p &lt;.001) and years working in oncology ( r =.18, p =.01). Conclusions: Our findings support the SEMC’s validity and reliability. Scores on the patient and family forms were similar, indicating that either may be used. The SEMC provides a useful tool for measuring clinician-rated communication skills in future research, ultimately allowing standardization across studies.

Are they too perfect to eat healthy? Association between eating disorder symptoms and perfectionism in adolescent rhythmic gymnasts

ObjectiveEating disorders are associated with perfectionism in adults, but evidence is lacking in adolescent competitive athletes. This study examined eating disorder symptoms and perfectionism in a sample of 13–15 years old, adolescent rhythmic gymnasts. MethodsEighty-nine female rhythmic gymnasts (41 international and 48 recreational level gymnasts), completed the Eating Attitudes Tests 26 (EAT-26), the Sport Perfectionism Questionnaire (SPQ), the Social Desirability Scale (SDS) and provided information on their training. ResultsIt was found that 41.46% of the international and 14.58% of the recreational level gymnasts scored ≥20 in EAT-26. International level gymnasts also scored higher than recreational in EAT-26 (p = 0.002), and its subscales Dieting (p = 0.012) and Oral Control (p ˂ 0.001) and in the Sport Perfectionism Questionnaire (p = 0.005) and the subscales Striving for Perfectionism (p ˂ 0.001) and Personal Standards (p ˂ 0.001). No differences were found between groups in the subscales Concerns over Mistakes (p = 0.429), and Negative Reactions to Imperfection (p = 0.096). Multiple regression analysis in international level gymnasts, showed that Negative Reactions to Imperfection, body mass index and training experience accounted for 33.2% of the variance in EAT-26 (adjusted R2 = 0.332, F = 6.786, p ˂ 0.001). A negative association was observed between training experience and eating disorder symptoms in international level athletes. No association was found between the subscales of perfectionism and EAT-26 in recreational gymnasts (p ˃ 0.316). ConclusionsInternational level, adolescent rhythmic gymnasts show more eating pathology than recreational. Negative Reactions to Imperfection and BMI seem relevant for gymnasts' dieting behaviour while training experience may help adolescent athletes to cope with disturbed eating behaviours.

Validation of the Self Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale in a population of Colombian medical students

ObjectiveValidate the Self Stigma Of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale in a population of students of a medical school for its use in Colombia. MethodsWe included 384 medical students from the city of Medellín. Initially, two direct translations were made, two back translation and one pilot test. The internal consistency, test-retest repeatability and structural, convergent, divergent and discriminative construct validity were then evaluated. ResultsA easy-to-understand and to fill out Spanish version was obtained. The internal consistency of the scale was adequate (Cronbach’s alpha = .80; 95%CI, .77–.83) as well as the test-retest repeatability (CCI = .77; 95%CI, .63–.86). The Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a good fit with the one-dimensional structure (RMSEA = .073; IC90%, .056–.089; CFI = .968; TLI = .977; WRMR = .844). The convergent validity was supported by the correlation with the Public Stigma scales (ρ = .39) and Attitudes towards Seeking Help (ρ = –0.50) and the divergent validity with the Social Desirability scale (ρ = –0,05). When examining the discriminative validity, differences were found between the scores of those who would be willing to seek professional help when having a mental health problem and those who probably would not (Difference of means = 4.9; 95%CI, 2.99–6.83). ConclusionsThe Colombian version of the SSOSH is valid, reliable and useful for the measurement of the Self-stigma associated with seeking professional help in the university population of the Colombian health sector. Its psychometric properties must be investigated in populations of other programs and outside universities.

Validated tool for quality assessment of anesthesia services by cardiac surgeons.

Background and Aim:The role of the cardiac anaesthesiologists extends beyond mere patient wellbeing to diagnostic input and active participation in decision making during cardiac surgery. The quality of service provision should therefore be judged not only by patient satisfaction but also by the satisfaction of cardiac surgeons. Unfortunately, quantification of cardiac surgeon satisfaction remains a challenge due to the absence of a reliable and validated tool. We therefore attempted to develop a robust, validated, pilot psychometric questionnaire, to measure satisfaction of cardiac surgeons' to cardiac anesthesia services.Methods:The questionnaire was developed with the help of senior cardiac anesthesiologist, cardiac surgeon and statistician with database search in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. The questionnaire was tested for content validity, comprehensibility, and identification of new items. This generated the second version of the questionnaire with nine socio-demographic and professional questions, 46 Likert type questions, an abridged Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability scale and one open ended question. This questionnaire was e-mailed to 100 cardiac surgeons requesting them to participate via a web-based survey application.Results:Content validity of the responses was tested by Aiken's content validity coefficient (V). Internal consistency was tested with Chronbach's alpha. Fifty-two cardiac surgeons participated in the survey. Twelve Likert type questions were deleted due to low V values. Excellent Chronbach's alpha (0.94) was obtained in the remaining 34 items.Conclusions:We have developed a questionnaire that includes 34 variables and allows quantifying surgeon satisfaction in a reliable fashion and is validated for the purpose.