Investigating the facets of stigma toward individuals with mental health disorders using the Italian adaptation of the Attribution Questionnaire–9: A two-step study

The present research has two goals: first, to validate the Italian version of the Attribution Questionnaire-9. Second, to investigate the validity of the Attribution Questionnaire-9, using a network analysis approach, with four mental disorders-that is, schizophrenia, anorexia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. In Study 1 (N = 951), a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. In Study 2 (N = 3,966), a network analysis, was performed to assess relationships among the main facets of stigma toward the aforementioned four different mental health disorders. Also, network comparisons were investigated. Findings of Study 1 confirmed that the Italian adaptation of the Attribution Questionnaire-9 has a unidimensional factor structure solution with good fit indexes. Study 2 highlighted differences in the network structure related to different facets of stigma toward mental health illness, revealing fear as a central factor in stigma toward mental illness.