Psychometric validation of the Depression Stigmatization Scale in Kazakh- and Russian-speaking populations
Abstract
BackgroundStigma remains a major barrier to help-seeking, social inclusion, and equitable access to mental health care for people with depression. The availability of culturally appropriate instruments is essential for monitoring stigma, evaluating anti-stigma interventions, and supporting community-based mental health policies. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the personal stigma subscale Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) in Kazakh- and Russian-speaking populations.MethodsA cross-sectional validation study was conducted among 1,000 adults in Kazakhstan (500 Russian-speaking and 500 Kazakh-speaking participants). The DSS was translated using a forward-backward translation procedure. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s omega were used to evaluate construct validity and internal consistency.ResultsThe adapted versions demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and preliminary evidence of factorial validity. The final Russian version retained eight items (Cronbach’s α = 0.71; McDonald’s ω = 0.71), while the final Kazakh version retained seven items (Cronbach’s α = 0.78; McDonald’s ω = 0.78). EFA supported a predominantly unidimensional factor structure in both language versions after removing items with insufficient factor loadings. The findings are consistent with previous international validation studies reporting cultural variation in the factor structure of the DSS.ConclusionThe Russian and Kazakh versions of the DSS provide reliable and culturally appropriate instruments for assessing personal depression stigma. Beyond psychometric validation, the adapted scale may facilitate monitoring of public attitudes toward depression, evaluation of anti-stigma programmes, and evidence-informed community-based mental health policies in Kazakhstan and other multilingual settings.
Related
- Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Duruöz Hand Index: A Reliable Patient-Reported Measure for Hand Disability in Arabic-Speaking Populations
- Testing the psychometric properties of depression and social-emotional functioning measures with autistic adolescents and their parents
- Development and psychometric validation of a multidimensional menstrual hygiene scale
- Factor structure and psychometric validation of the antenatal exercise knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire : A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from Saudi Arabian pregnant women
- Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Digital and Technological Self-Efficacy Scale among nursing students: a three-phase validation study.
BibTeX
@article{zhamaliyeva2026psychometric,
title = {{Psychometric validation of the Depression Stigmatization Scale in Kazakh- and Russian-speaking populations}},
author = {Lazzat Zhamaliyeva and Assemgul Batyrova and Nurgul Ablakimova and Galina Veklenko and Sandugash Kudaibergenova and Andrej M. Grjibovski},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1955488},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1955488},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Psychometric validation of the Depression Stigmatization Scale in Kazakh- and Russian-speaking populations
AU - Lazzat Zhamaliyeva
AU - Assemgul Batyrova
AU - Nurgul Ablakimova
AU - Galina Veklenko
AU - Sandugash Kudaibergenova
AU - Andrej M. Grjibovski
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1955488
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1955488
AB - BackgroundStigma remains a major barrier to help-seeking, social inclusion, and equitable access to mental health care for people with depression. The availability of culturally appropriate instruments is essential for monitoring stigma, evaluating anti-stigma interventions, and supporting community-based mental health policies. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the personal stigma subscale Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) in Kazakh- and Russian-speaking populations.MethodsA cross-sectional validation study was conducted among 1,000 adults in Kazakhstan (500 Russian-speaking and 500 Kazakh-speaking participants). The DSS was translated using a forward-backward translation procedure. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s omega were used to evaluate construct validity and internal consistency.ResultsThe adapted versions demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and preliminary evidence of factorial validity. The final Russian version retained eight items (Cronbach’s α = 0.71; McDonald’s ω = 0.71), while the final Kazakh version retained seven items (Cronbach’s α = 0.78; McDonald’s ω = 0.78). EFA supported a predominantly unidimensional factor structure in both language versions after removing items with insufficient factor loadings. The findings are consistent with previous international validation studies reporting cultural variation in the factor structure of the DSS.ConclusionThe Russian and Kazakh versions of the DSS provide reliable and culturally appropriate instruments for assessing personal depression stigma. Beyond psychometric validation, the adapted scale may facilitate monitoring of public attitudes toward depression, evaluation of anti-stigma programmes, and evidence-informed community-based mental health policies in Kazakhstan and other multilingual settings.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -