Measurement of Mental Illness Stigma and Discrimination
Research on the measurement of mental illness stigma and discrimination has grown rapidly in the past 15 years with a large number of measures developed. This chapter first defines mental illness stigma and discrimination and highlights the importance of using an appropriately targeted measurement strategy including consideration of key measurement principles such as content validity, context of use, and psychometric properties. Nine commonly used measures of perceived, experienced, and self -stigma and discrimination are then highlighted with measurement considerations summarized. We also discuss global and local measurement issues including translation and cross-cultural adaptation. Future directions for stigma and discrimination measurement research in mental illness stigma and discrimination are presented including the need to ensure that research includes consideration of complexity and variation in the experience of stigma and discrimination and that research is focused proportionately on communities that experience the most mental illness stigma and discrimination.
