| Title: |
Psychometric validation of the Internalised Stigma Scale for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (ISS-GDM): a cross-sectional study |
| Authors: |
E Davidsen; HT Maindal; KB Christensen; P Damm; M Byrne; IK Dahl-Petersen; ER Mathiesen; DM Jensen; C Vinter; U Kampmann; PG Ovesen; KK Nielsen |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Subject Terms: |
Biomedical and clinical sciences; Clinical sciences; Health sciences; Health services and systems; Other health sciences; Psychology; CRITERIA; Diabetes in pregnancy; Factor Analysis; Statistical; General & Internal Medicine; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Medicine; General & Internal; MENTAL-ILLNESS; Science & Technology; Stereotyping; Surveys and Questionnaires; WOMEN |
| Description: |
Objectives To develop and validate the Internalised Stigma Scale for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (ISS-GDM), a questionnaire measuring self-reported internalised stigma among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We hypothesised that internalised GDM stigma could be reliably and validly assessed through a short psychometric instrument. Design Cross-sectional validation study. Setting Follow-up data from the Danish, multicentre Face-it trial for women with prior GDM and their families. Participants In total, 248 women completed the ISS-GDM approximately 1 year after their GDM affected pregnancy. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was psychometric properties of the ISS-GDM, assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis (RA). Secondary outcomes included identification of item anomalies (local response dependence, differential item functioning). Results A large proportion of respondents endorsed statements reflecting self-disappointment, self-blame and an altered self-perception. Less endorsed statements included feeling inferior to other mothers or guilt towards family members due to GDM. The ISS-GDM demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. CFA indicated that item 2 assessing self-perceived capabilities as a mother did not load onto the main factor, while CFA and RA identified local response dependence and differential item functioning by body mass index. After adjustments, a two-factor solution supported calculating a sum score of items 1 and 3–11, with item 2 retained as a stand-alone indicator of perceived parenting capabilities. The 10-item scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.78). Conclusions The ISS-GDM is a reliable and valid tool for assessing internalised stigma among women with prior GDM. Our findings further suggest that a substantial proportion of women with prior GDM experience self-blame and an altered self-perception due to their diagnosis. The ISS-GDM scale enables research into its ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
unknown |
| Relation: |
http://hdl.handle.net/10779/DRO/DU:31152034.v1 |
| Availability: |
http://hdl.handle.net/10779/DRO/DU:31152034.v1; https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Psychometric_validation_of_the_Internalised_Stigma_Scale_for_Gestational_Diabetes_Mellitus_ISS-GDM_a_cross-sectional_study/31152034 |
| Rights: |
CC BY-NC 4.0 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.60DA3CDF |
| Database: |
BASE |