Development and Psychometric Analysis of a Stigmatization Scale for Childhood Cancers for Adolescents

Valid and reliable measurement tools are needed to plan programs that address the stigmatization of adolescents and to monitor the effectiveness of these programs in childhood cancers, where early diagnosis and treatment are decisive for prognosis. In this context, the development of a stigmatization scale for childhood cancers in adolescents will provide an objective tool for health professionals and researchers to assess stigma and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce it.

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine adolescents' stigma of childhood cancer and to examine its psychometric properties.

This methodological study was conducted with 500 adolescents in Türkiye between November 2024 and December 2024. Data were collected with the "The Information Form and the Stigmatization Scale for Childhood Cancers for Adolescents (STS-CA)". IBM SPSS 25.0 and IBM AMOS 25.0 software programs were used for data analysis, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze numeric variables. Exploration and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to determine the scale's factorial structure.

The factorial analysis was used to test the structural validity of the scale. A three-factor structure consisting of 22 items was developed. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the Avoidance of Friendship and Social Relationships sub-scale, Health Status and Perception of Difference sub-scale, Emotional Burden and Social Isolation sub-scale and total Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.642, 0.744, 0.579 and 0.910, respectively. Fit indices resulting from the study were χ²/sd: 2.725, RMSEA: 0.075, GFI: 0.90, CFI: 0.90, and NFI: 0.90.

The Stigmatization Scale for Childhood Cancers for Adolescents (STS-CA) is a valid and reliable scale to determine the stigma level of adolescents toward childhood cancers.

The scale provides a practical tool for health professionals to assess adolescents' stigmatization levels, plan and implement interventions to reduce stigma, and evaluate their effectiveness. It may also be used to guide educational activities and awareness programs that support psychosocial well-being in adolescents affected by childhood cancer.