Perceived stigma of caregivers: Psychometric evaluation for Devaluation of Consumer Families Scale

Abstract

<i>Background/Objective:</i> The Devaluation of Consumer Families Scale (DCFS) is commonly used to measure perceived stigma towards family members of people with mental illness. However, its factorial structure has never been confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the DCFS Taiwan version (DCFS-TW). <i>Method:</i> Family caregivers (<i>N</i>=511) completed the DCFS-TW (97 completed the DCFS again after 2 to 4 weeks) and other instruments. CFA, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, concurrent validity, and known-group validity were analyzed. <i>Results:</i> The three-factor structure of the DCFS-TW performed better than the one-factor structure. Test-retest reliability (<i>r</i> = .66) and internal consistency were satisfactory (α = .85); concurrent validity (absolute <i>r</i> = .20 to .58) was acceptable; known-group validity was supported by the significantly different DCFS-TW scores in clinical characteristics (had been <i>vs.</i> had not been hospitalized; had been <i>vs.</i> had not been compulsorily admitted). <i>Conclusions:</i> The DCFS-TW has decent psychometric properties and is suitable for health professionals to measure perceived stigma towards family members of people with mental illness.