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Journal article
Testing the validity and reliability of the shame questionnaire among sexually abused girls in Zambia
PloS one, v 10(4), pp e0123820-e0123820
2015
PMID: 25879658
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The aim of the current study is to test the validity and reliability of the Shame Questionnaire among traumatized girls in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Shame Questionnaire was validated through both classical test and item response theory methods. Internal reliability, criterion validity and construct validity were examined among a sample of 325 female children living in Zambia. Sub-analyses were conducted to examine differences in construct validity among girls who reported sexual abuse and girls who did not.
All girls in the sample were sexually abused, but only 61.5% endorsed or reported that sexual abuse had occurred. Internal consistency was very good among the sample with alpha = .87. Criterion validity was demonstrated through a significant difference of mean Shame Questionnaire scores between girls who experienced 0-1 trauma events and more than one traumatic event, with higher mean Shame Questionnaire scores among girls who had more than one traumatic event (p = .004 for 0-1 compared to 2 and 3 events and p = .016 for 0-1 compared to 4+ events). Girls who reported a history of witnessing or experiencing physical abuse had a significantly higher mean Shame Questionnaire score than girls who did not report a history of witnessing or experiencing physical abuse (p<.0001). There was no significant difference in mean Shame Questionnaire score between girls who reported a sexual abuse history and girls who did not. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor model of the Shame Questionnaire, with an experience of shame dimension and an active outcomes of shame dimension. Item response theory analysis indicated adequate overall item fit. Results also indicate potential differences in construct validity between girls who did and did not endorse sexual abuse.
This study suggests the general utility of the Shame Questionnaire among Zambian girls and demonstrates the need for more psychometric studies in low and middle income countries.
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Details
- Title
- Testing the validity and reliability of the shame questionnaire among sexually abused girls in Zambia
- Creators
- Lynn T M Michalopoulos - Social Intervention Group, Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of AmericaLaura K Murray - Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of AmericaJeremy C Kane - Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of AmericaStephanie Skavenski van Wyk - Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of AmericaElwyn Chomba - Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child HealthJudith Cohen - Drexel UniversityMwiya Imasiku - University of ZambiaKatherine Semrau - Boston UniversityJay Unick - University of Maryland, BaltimorePaul A Bolton - Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Publication Details
- PloS one, v 10(4), pp e0123820-e0123820
- Publisher
- Public LIbrary of Science (PLOS)
- Grant note
- K23 MH077532 / NIMH NIH HHS T32DA007292 / NIDA NIH HHS K23MH077532 / NIMH NIH HHS T32 DA007292 / NIDA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Sociology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000353016500062
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84928253084
- Other Identifier
- 991019173646004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychiatry