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Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS)
Usage: Permission required
The Stigma of Suicide Scale is designed to assess stigmatising attitudes of general community members toward people who suicide. It has both a long and a short form. The long form consists of 58 items and the short form consists of 16 items. Each item consists of a one-word descriptor of a person who dies by suicide. A person completes the scale by rating how much they agree with each item being a descriptor of someone who takes their own life. Each item is to be rated on a 5-point Likert scale from (1) strongly disagree to (5) strongly agree. Higher scores indicate higher levels of stigma towards people who suicide. The Stigma of Suicide Scale has three subscales: stigma, isolation/depression, and glorification/normalization.
Short form
Using the scale below, please rate how much you agree with the descriptions of people who take their own lives (suicide). In general, people who suicide are . . .
Strongly disagree |
Disagree |
Neither agree nor disagree |
Agree |
Strongly agree |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stigma | |||||
| Pathetic | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
|
Shallow |
□ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Immoral | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| An embarrasment | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Irresponsible | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Stupid | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Cowardly | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Vengeful | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Isolation/ Depression | |||||
| Lonely | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Isolated | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Lost | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Disconnected | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Glorification/ Normalisation | |||||
| Strong | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Brave | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Noble | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Dedicated | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
Norms and psychometric properties
Internal consistency
SOSS overall α = 0.70*
SOSS Stigma Subscale α = 0.88*, 0.89**
SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale α = 0.80*, 0.78**
SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale α = 0.78*, 0.82**
Convergent validity
SOSS Stigma Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Stigma Subscale: r = -0.66, p < .05*
SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Isolation Subscale: r = -0.37, p < .05*
SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Acceptability Subscale: r = -0.35, p < .05*
(Negative correlations due to scales coded in opposite directions)
Construct validity
SOSS Stigma Subscale correlation with Depression Stigma Scale: r = -0.46, p < .001**
* a sample of 676 university staff and students from the Australian National University.
** A community sample of 1286 Australians aged over 18 years.
Key references
Batterham, P.J., Calear, A.L., Christensen, H. (2013)Correlates of Suicide Stigma and Suicide Literacy in the Community. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviour; 43: 406-417.
Batterham, P.J., Calear, A.L., Christensen, H.(2013) The Stigma of Suicide Scale: Psychometric properties and correlates of the stigma of suicide. Research Trends; 34, 13-21.
Long form
Using the scale below, please rate how much you agree with the descriptions of people who take their own lives (suicide). In general, people who suicide are . . .
|
Strongly disagree |
Disagree |
Neither agree nor disagree |
Agree |
Strongly agree |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stigma | |||||
| Punishing others | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Selfish | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Hurtful | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Reckless | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Weak | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Irresponsible | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Attention-seeking | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Cowardly | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Senseless | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Ignorant | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Unfair | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Unjustifiable | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Stupid | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Cruel |
□ |
□ | □ | □ | □ |
| A burden | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Strange | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Unnatural | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Failures | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Shallow | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Shameful | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Pathetic | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Vengeful | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Violent | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Unforgiveable | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| An embarrasment | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Arrogant | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Immoral | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Useless | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Lazy | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Barbaric | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
|
Evil |
□ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Isolation/ Depression | |||||
| Unhappy | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Depressed | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| In pain | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Sad | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Hurt | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Disconnected | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Lost | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Isolated | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Lonely | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Miserable | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Trapped | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Alienated | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Broken | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Cutoff | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Withdrawn | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Disturbed | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Glorification/ Normalization | |||||
| Understandable | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Committed | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Brave | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Motivated | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Rational | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Realistic | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Strong | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Dedicated | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Powerful | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Fearless | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Noble | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
Norms and psychometric properties
Internal consistency
SOSS overall α = 0.90
SOSS Stigma Subscale α = 0.95
SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale α = 0.88
SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale α = 0.86
Convergent validity
SOSS Stigma Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Stigma Subscale: r = -0.682, p < .05*
SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Isolation Subscale: r = -0.467, p < .05*
SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Acceptability Subscale: r = -0.451, p < .05*
(Negative correlations due to scales coded in opposite directions)
Norms
Percentage of people agreeing or strongly agreeing with each item and mean score (standard deviation).
|
% |
M (SD) |
% |
M (SD) |
||
Stigma items |
Isolation/Depression items |
||||
|
Punishing others |
39.50 |
3.11 (1.06) |
Unhappy |
94.80 |
4.37 (0.61) |
|
Selfish |
38.30 |
3.03 (1.12) |
Depressed |
94.20 |
4.50 (0.67) |
|
Hurtful |
33.00 |
2.87 (1.08) |
In pain |
93.60 |
4.41 (0.62) |
|
Reckless |
32.40 |
2.97 (0.99) |
Sad |
90.80 |
4.19 (0.64) |
|
Weak |
26.90 |
2.77 (1.06) |
Hurt |
90.70 |
4.16 (0.66) |
|
Irresponsible |
24.90 |
2.77 (1.04) |
Disconnected |
89.50 |
4.23 (0.72) |
|
Attention-seeking |
22.00 |
2.56 (1.12) |
Lost |
89.10 |
4.20 (0.71) |
|
Cowardly |
21.30 |
2.53 (1.14) |
Isolated |
86.80 |
4.18 (0.73) |
|
Senseless |
20.60 |
2.71 (0.97) |
Lonely |
86.70 |
4.19 (0.73) |
|
Ignorant |
19.80 |
2.58 (1.06) |
Miserable |
84.20 |
4.17 (0.80) |
|
Unfair |
19.10 |
2.71 (0.91) |
Trapped |
84.00 |
4.00 (0.74) |
|
Unjustifiable |
14.50 |
2.51 (0.94) |
Alienated |
82.70 |
4.05 (0.88) |
|
Stupid |
12.90 |
2.25 (1.06) |
Broken |
76.80 |
3.91 (0.92) |
|
Cruel |
12.60 |
2.24 (1.00) |
Cutoff |
74.40 |
3.84 (0.82) |
|
A burden |
12.40 |
2.21 (1.05) |
Withdrawn |
67.30 |
3.75 (0.82) |
|
Strange |
10.80 |
2.40 (0.92) |
Disturbed |
61.20 |
3.61 (1.01) |
|
Unnatural |
10.50 |
2.30 (0.98) |
|
||
|
Failures |
9.80 |
1.91 (1.04) |
Glorification/Normalization items |
||
|
Shallow |
9.00 |
2.20 (0.94) |
Understandable |
35.80 |
3.08 (0.97) |
|
Shameful |
8.60 |
2.12 (1.00) |
Committed |
15.40 |
2.62 (0.94) |
|
Pathetic |
8.10 |
2.00 (0.93) |
Brave |
14.30 |
2.21 (1.10) |
|
Vengeful |
7.50 |
2.21 (0.92) |
Motivated |
10.40 |
2.44 (0.87) |
|
Violent |
6.80 |
2.17 (0.87) |
Rational |
7.00 |
2.27 (0.85) |
|
Unforgivable |
6.40 |
2.01 (0.91) |
Realistic |
6.70 |
2.26 (0.84) |
|
An embarrassment |
6.10 |
1.74 (0.93) |
Strong |
6.20 |
2.22 (0.90) |
|
Arrogant |
4.70 |
1.97 (0.88) |
Dedicated |
5.90 |
2.44 (0.83) |
|
Immoral |
4.60 |
1.87 (0.89) |
Powerful |
4.00 |
2.11 (0.84) |
|
Useless |
4.00 |
1.85 (0.86) |
Fearless |
3.10 |
1.89 (0.84) |
|
Lazy |
3.30 |
1.96 (0.85) |
Noble |
1.90 |
2.03 (0.81) |
|
Barbaric |
2.40 |
1.72 (0.82) |
|
||
|
Evil |
0.70 |
1.35 (0.65) |
|
||
Based on a sample of 676 university staff and students from the Australian National University.
Key references
Batterham, P.J., Calear, A.L., Christensen, H. (2013) The Stigma of Suicide Scale: Psychometric properties and correlates of the stigma of suicide. Research Trends; 34, 13-21.
