Development of the Self-Stigmatization and Shame Scale in Women with Urinary Incontinence

Project no. 24080 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2022

Summary

This study was conducted to develop the Self-Stigmatization and Shame Scale in Women with Urinary Incontinence (SSSS-WUI) and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the scale. A total of 342 women who voluntarily participated and completed all questionnaire items were included in the study. The data were collected online via Google Forms. As data collection instruments, a Descriptive Information Form including the participants’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the Draft Self-Stigmatization and Shame Scale for Women with Urinary Incontinence, developed by the researcher, were used. The scale items were rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0 and R software (version 4.5.2). To assess the construct validity of the scale, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed. Prior to EFA, the suitability of the data for factor analysis was examined using the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett’s test of sphericity. As a result of the EFA, four items with factor loadings below .40 or showing cross-loadings were removed from the scale, yielding a four-factor structure consisting of 23 items. It was determined that the factor loadings ranged from .48 to 1.01. The resulting four-factor structure was tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with the WLSMV estimation method, taking into account the ordinal nature of the data. Model fit was evaluated using the χ²/df, CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR indices. The CFA results indicated high comparative fit indices and that the SRMR value was within acceptable limits. Despite the relatively high RMSEA value, the model fit was considered acceptable when evaluated in conjunction with the WLSMV estimation method for ordinal data. The reliability of the scale was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient and corrected item–total correlations. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the subscales ranged from .85 to .97, while the coefficient for the total scale was calculated as .98. Item–total correlations ranged from .49 to .90, indicating that all items met the criteria for item discrimination. The participants’ mean age was 53.1 ± 9.79 years, and the mean duration of incontinence was 5.88 ± 5.00 years. The mean total score obtained from the scale was 59.98 ± 20.92. Among the subscales, the highest mean score was observed in Negative Self-Perception and Shame, whereas the lowest mean score was found in Social Avoidance and Concealment Behaviors.In conclusion, the Self-Stigmatization and Shame Scale in Women with Urinary Incontinence was determined to be a valid and reliable measurement tool, and it can be used in clinical practice and research to assess the level of psychosocial impact related to urinary incontinence in women.

View details