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Development and validation of the Dermatology Social Comparison (DSC) Scale
Ellie Choi1,2, Ruochen Du3, Yik W Yew4,5
1Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, National University Healthcare System, Singapore, Singapore.
A new 3-question scale effectively measures social comparison in dermatology patients. This validated instrument aids clinical and research assessments of social comparison tendencies in skin conditions.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Measurement
- Dermatology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Social comparison significantly impacts self-perception and behavior.
- Limited tools exist for assessing social comparison in medical contexts, particularly dermatology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel scale for measuring social comparison.
- To create a brief, psychometrically sound instrument for clinical and research use.
Main Methods:
- Seven statements were developed and piloted for readability.
- Validated prospectively in 1,053 adult dermatology patients (eczema/psoriasis) using factor analysis and Rasch analysis.
Main Results:
- Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a single-factor, three-item model.
- The scale demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, including Cronbach's alpha of 0.7.
- Rasch analysis indicated appropriate item discrimination, though person separation reliability was suboptimal (0.63).
Conclusions:
- A brief, 3-question social comparison scale exhibits acceptable psychometrics for dermatology.
- The scale is suitable for clinical and research applications in assessing social comparison.
- Further investigation is warranted to explore its applicability beyond eczema and psoriasis.
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