Table 2.
Explanatory factor analysis of COVID-19 stigma scale.
| Items | Factor loadings* | |
|---|---|---|
| Avoidance | ||
| 15 | I would find it hard to talk to someone with COVID-19 (AW). | 0.98 |
| 18 | I would distance myself physically from someone with COVID-19. | 0.97 |
| 19 | If a colleague had COVID-19, I would try to avoid them (even if healed). | 0.95 |
| 14 | I would find it difficult being around someone with COVID-19 (AW). | 0.93 |
| 19a | If a close friend or family had COVID-19, I would try to avoid them (even if healed). | 0.85 |
| 16 | I would feel irritated by someone with COVID-19. | 0.81 |
| 12 | I would try to avoid a person with COVID-19. | 0.77 |
| 17 | I would feel embarrassed discussing COVID-19 with someone who had it. | 0.69 |
| 13 | I would feel angered by someone with COVID-19. | 0.66 |
| 20 | It is acceptable to exclude people who had COVID-19 from financial support by the government. (FD) | 0.44 |
| Personal responsibility | ||
| 8 | A person with COVID-19 is liable for their condition. | 0.82 |
| 5 | A person with COVID-19 is accountable for their condition. | 0.65 |
| 9 | If a person has COVID-19, it is probably their fault. | 0.55 |
| 3 | A person with COVID-19 is to blame for their condition. | 0.49 |
| Severity | ||
| 7 | COVID-19 devastates the lives of those it touches. | 0.93 |
| 4 | Having COVID-19 usually ruins a person's career. | 0.88 |
| 6 | COVID-19 usually ruins close personal relationships. | 0.69 |
| 1 | Once you've had COVID-19, you can never be “normal” again. | 0.65 |
| 2 | Getting COVID-19 means having to mentally prepare oneself for death. | 0.50 |
| Policy opposition | ||
| 21 | The needs of COVID-19 patients should be given top priority. (Reversed) | 0.85 |
| 22 | More government funding should be spent on the prevention measures against COVID-19. (Reversed) | 0.74 |
| 23 | We have a responsibility to follow the prevention measures for the prevention of COVID-19. (Reversed) | 0.55 |
| Awkwardness | ||
| 11 | I would feel comfortable around someone with COVID-19 (Reversed) | 0.89 |
| 10 | I would feel at ease around someone with COVID-19 (Reversed) | 0.86 |
| Financial discrimination** | ||
| 24 | It is acceptable to exclude stores or facilities that caused COVID-19 from financial support by the government. | - |
| 25 | It is acceptable for insurance companies to reconsider a policy if someone had COVID-19 | - |
(AW) items were included in the Awkwardness factor in the cancer stigma scale (CASS), while the (FD) item was included in financial discrimination in the CASS and Japanese version of the CASS.
*The highest factor loading for each item is shown in the relevant factor group. **Financial discrimination factor was excluded from the analysis because all belonging items' factor loading was below 0.40.