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Mental Illness Stigma: The Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27-P)

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Abstract

The main objective of the present study was the translation of The Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27) into Persian language (AQ-27-P), and analysis of psychometric properties for use in Persian-speaking population and to evaluate the responsibility and dangerousness models of mental illness stigma. 600 adults were selected through the quota sampling method from general population of Tehran city (Iran). The study conducted the translation/back-translation to translate the questionnaire and provide its Content validity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was examined to evaluate the reliability of the AQ-27-P. Test–retest reliability was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the responsibility and dangerousness models of stigma. The internal consistency of AQ-27-P was satisfactory (α = .88), ranging from .82 to .93. Test–retest reliability showed acceptable results for the total score (ICC = 0.74). All the fit indices relatively confirmed responsibility and dangerousness models of stigma, and all AQ-27 items loaded significantly into the corresponding latent factors. Unexpectedly, the results of the dangerousness model showed that fear had a negative relation with avoidance responses. The AQ-27-P is a standardized questionnaire with admissible psychometric properties, which can be used to assess stigmatizing attitudes in Persian-speaking populations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Behrouz Dolatshahe for his guidance in the preparation of this manuscript.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Clinical Psychology, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India

    Afsaneh Atashi

  2. Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA

    Patrick Corrigan

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, P.O. Box 1985713834, Tehran, Iran

    Shima Shakiba & Abbas Pourshahbaz

  4. Department of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, England, UK

    Maya Al-khouja

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  1. Afsaneh Atashi
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  2. Patrick Corrigan
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Correspondence to Shima Shakiba.

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Atashi, A., Corrigan, P., Shakiba, S. et al. Mental Illness Stigma: The Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27-P). J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health 9, 189–196 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-021-00251-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-021-00251-7

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