Further validation and reliability testing of the Attitudes and Beliefs about Living with Epilepsy (ABLE) components of the CDC Epilepsy Program Instrument on Stigma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to conduct additional validation and reliability testing of the Attitudes and Beliefs about Living with Epilepsy (ABLE) components of the CDC Epilepsy Program Instrument on Stigma. Thirteen items were tested using a representative sample of U.S. adults (n=4345). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed two underlying constructs as hypothesized that accounted for 61% of the variance in the factor analysis: Negative Stereotypes (alpha=0.86) and Risk and Safety Concerns (alpha=0.88). As expected, participants differed on scale scores by demographic characteristics. Test-retest reliability was acceptable. The results of these analyses extend those from our previous study suggesting that the negative stereotypes and risk and safety concern scales demonstrate acceptable validity and reliability, and can be used to measure attitudes toward epilepsy related to these two domains.