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. 2020 Nov-Dec;25(13-14):2352-2361.
doi: 10.1177/1359105318796906. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale

Julia M Terman  1 , Jessica M Awsumb  1 , Joseph Cotler  1 , Leonard A Jason  1
Affiliations

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale

Julia M Terman et al. J Health Psychol. 2020 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

This study adapted a chronic illness stigma scale and explored its psychometric properties. The main purposes were to confirm the factor structure of the instrument with this population and address the previous factor intercorrelation discrepancies. Five hundred and fifty-four individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome completed the adapted stigma scale. Results document the stigma experienced by an international sample of individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Factors demonstrated good internal consistency, and a model fit was found in a confirmatory factor analysis. Participants endorsed high levels of stigma, estrangement, and disclosure. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.

Keywords: chronic fatigue syndrome; confirmatory factor analysis; disclosure; estrangement; myalgic encephalomyelitis; stigma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
SEM model of relationships among psychological attribution, estrangement, and disclosure for people with ME and CFS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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