{
  "abstract": "The United Nations has identified stigma as one of the three burdens faced by widowed women, alongside sexual and economic vulnerabilities.Despite its recognized importance, no multidimensional validated tool currently exists to measure widowhood stigma.We used a mixed methods exploratory sequential design.First, we combined findings from a literature review and a qualitative study on widowed women in Gem Sub-County in western Kenya to generate an item pool for the widowhood stigma measure.Then, 10 widowhood experts reviewed the item pool that was subsequently tested and revised through cognitive interviews with six widowed women.The revised item pool was included in a cross-sectional survey with an age-stratified random sample of 480 widowed women.Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, reliability, and validity tests to develop the Widowhood Stigma Scale.The final Widowhood Stigma Scale comprised three subscales (Internalized Stigma, Loss of Social Status, and Social Isolation) and demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .93).The items were measured on 4-point Likert scales, with higher scores showing greater levels of widowhood stigma.The 19-item scale demonstrated preliminary construct validity with a strong positive correlation with depression (rs = 0.51) and a moderate negative correlation with functional social support (rs = -0.41).This study presents the first validated multidimensional Widowhood Stigma Scale.It offers a critical tool that can be applied in future research to understand the experience, prevalence, and health effects of widowhood stigma and to inform the development of widowhood stigma-reduction interventions and policies. Clinical Impact StatementOur work provides the first multidimensional measurement tool for widowhood stigma in sub-Saharan Africa.This makes widowhood stigma a measurable social determinant for health.It creates opportunities for further research on trends, regional comparisons, and the effects of widowhood stigma on multiple health behaviors and outcomes.It also facilitates evaluation of widowhood stigma-reduction interventions and policies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Public Health, Maseno University, Kenya",
    "Nyanam Widowed women Rising, Kisumu, Kenya",
    "Department of Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA",
    "Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Maseno University, Kenya",
    "Division of Prevention Science, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA",
    "Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya",
    "Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA",
    "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Maseno University, Kenya",
    "Division of HIV, Infectious Disease and Global Medicine, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA",
    "Center for Gender and Health Justice, University of California Global Health Institute, CA, USA"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
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        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jackline A. Odhiambo"
    },
    {
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        0
      ],
      "name": "Louisa N. Ndunyu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Janet M. Turan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Erick O. Nyambedha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Nadra E. Lisha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Elizabeth A. Bukusi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Craig R. Cohen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Sheri D. Weiser"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Ushma D. Upadhyay"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3x2fv7c8awdd.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1037/sah0000710",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13729894/",
  "id": "c3x2fv7c8awdd",
  "issns": [
    "2376-6972",
    "2376-6964"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000710",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3203|Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health"
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  "openalex": "W7225082212",
  "pdf_url": "https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2028-49106-001.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13729894",
  "pmid": "42979470",
  "published": "2026-11-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3x2fv7c8awdd.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:22:37Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13729894",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000710"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:3203|Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
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  ],
  "title": "Development and validation of a novel widowhood stigma scale",
  "title_text": "Development and validation of a novel widowhood stigma scale",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:22:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3x2fv7c8awdd",
  "venue": "Stigma and health",
  "versions": []
}