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Psychometric Evaluation of the HIV Disclosure Belief Scale: A Rasch Model Approach

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Abstract

This study provides psychometric assessment of an HIV disclosure belief scale (DBS) among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study used baseline data from a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of an HIV serostatus disclosure intervention of 338 HIV-positive MSM. The Rasch model was used after unidimensionality and local independence assumptions were tested for application of the model. Results suggest that there was only one item that did not fit the model well. After removing the item, the DBS showed good model-data fit and high item and person reliabilities. This instrument showed measurement invariance across two different age groups, but some items showed differential item functioning between Caucasian and other minority groups. The findings suggest that the DBS is suitable for measuring the HIV disclosure beliefs, but it should be cautioned when the DBS is used to compare the disclosure beliefs between different racial/ethnic groups.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH082639) to the second author Julianne M. Serovich. We would like to thank the men who participated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Behavioral and Community Science, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MHC 2503, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Jinxiang Hu, Julianne M. Serovich, Monique J. Brown & Judy A. Kimberly

  2. College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    Yi-Hsin Chen

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  1. Jinxiang Hu
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  2. Julianne M. Serovich
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  3. Yi-Hsin Chen
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  4. Monique J. Brown
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Correspondence to Jinxiang Hu.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Hu, J., Serovich, J.M., Chen, YH. et al. Psychometric Evaluation of the HIV Disclosure Belief Scale: A Rasch Model Approach. AIDS Behav 21, 174–183 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1478-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1478-7

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