Arabic translation and cultural adaptation of the stigma-devaluation scale in Jordan

A review of the literature on measuring the concept of stigma related to caring for a relative with mental illness yielded no instrument appropriate for use in Jordan.

To translate and culturally modify the stigma-devaluation scale (SDS) into Arabic, and to test the reliability, content and construct validity of the Arabic version of the SDS.

The SDS was translated into the Arabic language, modified and culturally adapted by a translation model. Estimation of internal consistency was used to assess the reliability of the SDS. Construct validity was determined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Measurements of content validity and reading level of the Arabic SDS were included. The Arabic SDS was evaluated in a sample of 164 family caregivers in Jordan.

Content validity index was determined to be 1.0. Reading level of the Arabic SDS was deemed to be at a sixth grade level or higher. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Arabic SDS total scale was 0.87. The results of the CFA revealed that the factor structure of the SDS had a satisfactory fit.

This study provided psychometric evidence that the modified Arabic SDS is valid and conceptually consistent with the content of the original English SDS.