Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS)
Summary
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 disagree | Disagree | Neither agree nor disagree | Agree | Strongly 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 others | 39.50 | 3.11 (1.06) | Unhappy | 94.80 | 4.37 (0.61) |
| Selfish | 38.30 | 3.03 (1.12) | Depressed | 94.20 | 4.50 (0.67) |
| Hurtful | 33.00 | 2.87 (1.08) | In pain | 93.60 | 4.41 (0.62) |
| Reckless | 32.40 | 2.97 (0.99) | Sad | 90.80 | 4.19 (0.64) |
| Weak | 26.90 | 2.77 (1.06) | Hurt | 90.70 | 4.16 (0.66) |
| Irresponsible | 24.90 | 2.77 (1.04) | Disconnected | 89.50 | 4.23 (0.72) |
| Attention-seeking | 22.00 | 2.56 (1.12) | Lost | 89.10 | 4.20 (0.71) |
| Cowardly | 21.30 | 2.53 (1.14) | Isolated | 86.80 | 4.18 (0.73) |
| Senseless | 20.60 | 2.71 (0.97) | Lonely | 86.70 | 4.19 (0.73) |
| Ignorant | 19.80 | 2.58 (1.06) | Miserable | 84.20 | 4.17 (0.80) |
| Unfair | 19.10 | 2.71 (0.91) | Trapped | 84.00 | 4.00 (0.74) |
| Unjustifiable | 14.50 | 2.51 (0.94) | Alienated | 82.70 | 4.05 (0.88) |
| Stupid | 12.90 | 2.25 (1.06) | Broken | 76.80 | 3.91 (0.92) |
| Cruel | 12.60 | 2.24 (1.00) | Cutoff | 74.40 | 3.84 (0.82) |
| A burden | 12.40 | 2.21 (1.05) | Withdrawn | 67.30 | 3.75 (0.82) |
| Strange | 10.80 | 2.40 (0.92) | Disturbed | 61.20 | 3.61 (1.01) |
| Unnatural | 10.50 | 2.30 (0.98) | |||
| Failures | 9.80 | 1.91 (1.04) | Glorification/Normalization items | ||
| Shallow | 9.00 | 2.20 (0.94) | Understandable | 35.80 | 3.08 (0.97) |
| Shameful | 8.60 | 2.12 (1.00) | Committed | 15.40 | 2.62 (0.94) |
| Pathetic | 8.10 | 2.00 (0.93) | Brave | 14.30 | 2.21 (1.10) |
| Vengeful | 7.50 | 2.21 (0.92) | Motivated | 10.40 | 2.44 (0.87) |
| Violent | 6.80 | 2.17 (0.87) | Rational | 7.00 | 2.27 (0.85) |
| Unforgivable | 6.40 | 2.01 (0.91) | Realistic | 6.70 | 2.26 (0.84) |
| An embarrassment | 6.10 | 1.74 (0.93) | Strong | 6.20 | 2.22 (0.90) |
| Arrogant | 4.70 | 1.97 (0.88) | Dedicated | 5.90 | 2.44 (0.83) |
| Immoral | 4.60 | 1.87 (0.89) | Powerful | 4.00 | 2.11 (0.84) |
| Useless | 4.00 | 1.85 (0.86) | Fearless | 3.10 | 1.89 (0.84) |
| Lazy | 3.30 | 1.96 (0.85) | Noble | 1.90 | 2.03 (0.81) |
| Barbaric | 2.40 | 1.72 (0.82) | |||
| Evil | 0.70 | 1.35 (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.