Translation and Validation of an Italian Language Version of the Religious Beliefs and Mental Illness Stigma Scale (I-RBMIS)

• Published in: Journal of religion and health 2021-10, Vol.60 (5), p.3530-3544
• Main Authors: Pingani, Luca, Giberti, Sara, Coriani, Sandra, Ferrari, Silvia, Fierro, Lucia, Mattei, Giorgio, Nasi, Anna Maria, Pinelli, Giorgia, Wesselmann, Eric D., Galeazzi, Gian Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Clinical Psychology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental disorders; Original Paper; Public Health; Questionnaires; Religion; Religious beliefs; Religious Studies; Stigma; Validity
• ISSN: 0022-4197; 1573-6571
• DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01195-9

The aim of this study is to validate the Italian version of the Religious Beliefs and Mental Illness Stigma Scale (I-RBMIS): a self-report measure of religious beliefs that may contribute to stigma regarding mental disorders. Scale validation included: linguistic validation; pilot test for understandability; face validity; factor analysis as test of dimensionality; Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test to evaluate sample sampling adequacy; internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha; scale validity was assessed through concurrent criterion validity using as gold standard the Italian version of Attribution Questionnaire 27 and mental health knowledge schedule; A total of 311 people agreed to participate in the study. Face validity showed that 13 items out of 16 were completely understandable while only three items (4, 9 and 13) highlighted small lexical concerns. The average compilation time was under 4 min. Bartlett’s test for sphericity was statistically significant ( Χ 2  = 1497.54; df  = 120; p