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Research Article: An Italian Validation of the 5-Item Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ): A Useful Tool for Rapid Assessment of Stigma, Acceptance, and Tolerance

Date Published: 2024-02-03

Abstract:
Stigma negatively impacts individuals, families, and communities, affecting relationships, education, and employment and leading to an additional burden on mental health. Assessing public attitudes towards people with mental health conditions is crucial, especially in terms of public health. Therefore, the Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was validated and adapted to the Italian cultural context. Translation followed four phases, involving bilingual speakers, comparison, back-translation, and expert review. In the pre-test phase, the questionnaire was administered to 21 participants anonymously. The validation test involved 213 subjects. Statistical analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and McDonald’s Omega and Cronbach’s alpha to assess the internal consistency. The results indicate good internal consistency (Omega = 0.71; Alpha = 0.72), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFI = 0.971) validated the questionnaire’s construct. The study’s findings align with the original validation, underscoring the questionnaire’s robustness. Overall, understanding public attitudes is crucial for public health interventions combating stigma and fostering positive attitudes.

Introduction:
Attitudes towards people with mental conditions (PWMC) encompass a range of inclinations, from acceptance and tolerance to stigmatization. Stigma is defined as a deeply discriminating behavior that affects someone who has physical deformities, character flaws (such as mental health conditions), or beliefs or origins (e.g., nation, religion) [1]. The continuum between tolerance and stigma can significantly influence the willingness of PWMC to disclose their psychological problems and seek help [2,3,4,5]. Public…

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