Measuring the Self-Stigma Associated With Seeking Psychological Help

Self-stigma is an important factor in people's decisions not to engage in therapy. To measure this construct, the authors developed the 10-item Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale. In Study 1 ( n = 583), the SSOSH had a unidimensional factor structure and good reliability (.91) among participants. Study 2 ( n = 470) confirmed the factor structure. Studies 2, 3 ( n = 546), and 4 ( n = 217) cross-validated the reliability (.86 to .90; test-retest, .72) and showed evidence of validity (construct, criterion, and predictive) across the study samples. The SSOSH uniquely predicted attitudes toward and intent to seek psychological help. Finally, in Study 5 ( n = 655) the SSOSH differentiated those who sought psychological services from those who did not across a 2-month period.