Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS)

Summary

The Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS) measures public attitudes and stigma toward suicide, aiding research on societal perceptions and informing anti-stigma interventions to improve mental health outcomes.

Usage: Permission required

The Stigma of Suicide Scale is designed to assess stigmatising attitudes of general community members toward people who suicide. It has both a long and a short form. The long form consists of 58 items and the short form consists of 16 items. Each item consists of a one-word descriptor of a person who dies by suicide. A person completes the scale by rating how much they agree with each item being a descriptor of someone who takes their own life. Each item is to be rated on a 5-point Likert scale from (1) strongly disagree to (5) strongly agree. Higher scores indicate higher levels of stigma towards people who suicide. The Stigma of Suicide Scale has three subscales: stigma, isolation/depression, and glorification/normalization.

Short form

Using the scale below, please rate how much you agree with the descriptions of people who take their own lives (suicide). In general, people who suicide are . . .  

 

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

Stigma
Isolation/ Depression
Glorification/ Normalisation
Pathetic
Shallow
Immoral
An embarrasment
Irresponsible
Stupid
Cowardly
Vengeful
Lonely
Isolated
Lost
Disconnected
Strong
Brave
Noble
Dedicated

Norms and psychometric properties

Internal consistency

SOSS overall α = 0.70*

SOSS Stigma Subscale α = 0.88*, 0.89**

SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale α = 0.80*, 0.78**

SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale α = 0.78*, 0.82**

Convergent validity

SOSS Stigma Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Stigma Subscale: r = -0.66, p < .05*

SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Isolation Subscale: r = -0.37, p < .05*

SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Acceptability Subscale: r = -0.35, p < .05*

(Negative correlations due to scales coded in opposite directions)

Construct validity

SOSS Stigma Subscale correlation with Depression Stigma Scale: r = -0.46, p < .001**

* a sample of 676 university staff and students from the Australian National University.

** A community sample of 1286 Australians aged over 18 years.

Key references

Batterham, P.J., Calear, A.L., Christensen, H. (2013)Correlates of Suicide Stigma and Suicide Literacy in the Community. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviour; 43: 406-417.

Batterham, P.J., Calear, A.L., Christensen, H.(2013) The Stigma of Suicide Scale: Psychometric properties and correlates of the stigma of suicide. Research Trends; 34, 13-21.

Long form

Using the scale below, please rate how much you agree with the descriptions of people who take their own lives (suicide). In general, people who suicide are . . .  

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeither agree nor disagreeAgreeStrongly agree
Stigma
Isolation/ Depression
Glorification/ Normalization
Punishing others
Selfish
Hurtful
Reckless
Weak
Irresponsible
Attention-seeking
Cowardly
Senseless
Ignorant
Unfair
Unjustifiable
Stupid
Cruel
A burden
Strange
Unnatural
Failures
Shallow
Shameful
Pathetic
Vengeful
Violent
Unforgiveable
An embarrasment
Arrogant
Immoral
Useless
Lazy
Barbaric
Evil
Unhappy
Depressed
In pain
Sad
Hurt
Disconnected
Lost
Isolated
Lonely
Miserable
Trapped
Alienated
Broken
Cutoff
Withdrawn
Disturbed
Understandable
Committed
Brave
Motivated
Rational
Realistic
Strong
Dedicated
Powerful
Fearless
Noble

Norms and psychometric properties

Internal consistency

SOSS overall α = 0.90

SOSS Stigma Subscale α = 0.95

SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale α = 0.88

SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale α = 0.86

Convergent validity

SOSS Stigma Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Stigma Subscale: r = -0.682, p < .05*

SOSS Isolation/ Depression Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Isolation Subscale: r = -0.467, p < .05*

SOSS Glorification/ Normalization Subscale correlation with Suicide Opinion Questionnaire Acceptability Subscale: r = -0.451, p < .05*

(Negative correlations due to scales coded in opposite directions)

Norms

Percentage of people agreeing or strongly agreeing with each item and mean score (standard deviation).

 %M (SD) %M (SD)

Stigma items

Isolation/Depression items

Punishing others39.503.11 (1.06)Unhappy94.804.37 (0.61)
Selfish38.303.03 (1.12)Depressed94.204.50 (0.67)
Hurtful33.002.87 (1.08)In pain93.604.41 (0.62)
Reckless32.402.97 (0.99)Sad90.804.19 (0.64)
Weak26.902.77 (1.06)Hurt90.704.16 (0.66)
Irresponsible24.902.77 (1.04)Disconnected89.504.23 (0.72)
Attention-seeking22.002.56 (1.12)Lost89.104.20 (0.71)
Cowardly21.302.53 (1.14)Isolated86.804.18 (0.73)
Senseless20.602.71 (0.97)Lonely86.704.19 (0.73)
Ignorant19.802.58 (1.06)Miserable84.204.17 (0.80)
Unfair19.102.71 (0.91)Trapped84.004.00 (0.74)
Unjustifiable14.502.51 (0.94)Alienated82.704.05 (0.88)
Stupid12.902.25 (1.06)Broken76.803.91 (0.92)
Cruel12.602.24 (1.00)Cutoff74.403.84 (0.82)
A burden12.402.21 (1.05)Withdrawn67.303.75 (0.82)
Strange10.802.40 (0.92)Disturbed61.203.61 (1.01)
Unnatural10.502.30 (0.98)   
Failures9.801.91 (1.04)

Glorification/Normalization items

Shallow9.002.20 (0.94)Understandable35.803.08 (0.97)
Shameful8.602.12 (1.00)Committed15.402.62 (0.94)
Pathetic8.102.00 (0.93)Brave14.302.21 (1.10)
Vengeful7.502.21 (0.92)Motivated10.402.44 (0.87)
Violent6.802.17 (0.87)Rational7.002.27 (0.85)
Unforgivable6.402.01 (0.91)Realistic6.702.26 (0.84)
An embarrassment6.101.74 (0.93)Strong6.202.22 (0.90)
Arrogant4.701.97 (0.88)Dedicated5.902.44 (0.83)
Immoral4.601.87 (0.89)Powerful4.002.11 (0.84)
Useless4.001.85 (0.86)Fearless3.101.89 (0.84)
Lazy3.301.96 (0.85)Noble1.902.03 (0.81)
Barbaric2.401.72 (0.82)   
Evil0.701.35 (0.65)   

Based on a sample of 676 university staff and students from the Australian National University.

Key references

Batterham, P.J., Calear, A.L., Christensen, H. (2013) The Stigma of Suicide Scale: Psychometric properties and correlates of the stigma of suicide. Research Trends; 34, 13-21.