Self‑Stigma Scale (Short Form)
Burmese version Self-Stigma Scale_Burmese_9item_332026.pdf Self-Stigma Scale_Burmese_5item_332026.pdf
The Self‑Stigma Scale–Short Form (SSS‑SF) is a short questionnaire with nine questions. It is designed to measure how much people have taken in and accepted negative ideas about themselves because of their minority status. Each question asks participants to say how much they agree or disagree, using a scale from 1 (“strongly disagree”) to 4 (“strongly agree”). Higher scores mean stronger feelings of self‑stigma. The questions look at three areas: emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.
Permission to translate the scale into Burmese was formally granted by the original developer, Prof. Mak and Cheung. The translation was carried out by the Language Institute at Chiang Mai University, following international standards to ensure accuracy and cultural sensitivity. After the initial Burmese translation, an independent translator converted it back into English to check consistency. A team of researchers and community members then reviewed the wording to make sure it was clear and culturally appropriate. The final version kept the meaning of the original while fitting the Burmese community in Thailand.
When tested with older Myanmar migrants, the nine‑question version worked fairly well, but some questions did not fit perfectly. After removing four of them, researchers created a shorter five‑question version. This new version showed excellent results and was easier to use.
Both versions were reliable, meaning people’s answers were consistent. The scale also showed meaningful links with depression, anxiety, and willingness to seek help, which confirms that it measures self‑stigma as intended. At the same time, it did not overlap with unrelated personality traits like extraversion, showing that it captures stigma specifically.
In summary, the five‑question Burmese Self‑Stigma Scale is a practical, reliable, and culturally sensitive tool for understanding self‑stigma among older Myanmar migrants in Thailand.
