A Brief Scale for HIV Self Disclosure: Development, Validity and Reliability

Abstract

Utilizing the Weiss and Ramakrishna's model of “social process”- a cognitive process whereby individual with a health attribute, react adversely to anticipated isolation, rejection, blame, or devaluation expressed by people around, we develop and validate a tool to measure self disclosure among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in Nigeria. Existing scales that measured self disclosure particularly of HIV/AIDS were reviewed. We conducted a qualitative study to determine salient concerns related to HIV disclosure in Nigeria. Themes were generated, and those related to barriers to disclosure were used to construct a12-item HIV self disclosure scale. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was then conducted among 122 PLWHAs to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. Construct validity using exploratory factor analysis factored and Varimax rotated the scale into three dimensions (KMO = .875, df = 78, p<.001) with items loading ranged from 0.72 to .92. Internal Construct validity shows that self-disclosure scale and its dimensions (Intimate disclosure to family & friends (r = 0.55), Avenue for disclosure, (r = 0.77), Self-imposed/ advocacy disclosure, (r = 0.33) are highly related. Convergent validity was established between Self-disclosure scale and depression scale, Intimate disclosure to family & friends sub-dimension and self –esteem while Self-imposed/ advocacy disclosure had divergent validity with self-esteem. The reliability dimensions or sub scales have meritorious reliability (Intimate disclosure to family & friends, α =.63, Avenue for disclosure, α =.35; Self-imposed/ advocacy disclosure, α =.53). The brief Self-Disclosure Scale was reliable and valid means of assessing HIV-serostatus disclosure in Nigeria.