Confirming the factor structure of the police officer stigma scale

First responders experience elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) depression, and other stress-related conditions due to frequent exposure to critical incidents. Despite the increasing availability of mental health services, utilization among first responders remains low with stigma consistently cited as a primary barrier to treatment. The Police Officer Stigma Scale (POSS) was developed to measure occupational stigma toward mental illness in law enforcement, but its factor structure remains contested. While Stuart proposed a single-factor solution, other sources found evidence for a two-factor model encompassing fear of disclosure and perceived maltreatment of colleagues. The current study sought to confirm the factor structure of the POSS using a large sample of 1,275 Florida first responders (firefighters, law enforcement officers, and dispatchers). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) compared single and two-factor solutions using maximum likelihood estimation with robust standard errors. Notably, the present study evaluates an adapted version of the POSS applied across multiple first responder groups rather than exclusively validating the original police specific instrument. Results supported the optimality of the two-factor model over the single-factor model. The two-factor model yielded lower RMSEA and SRMR values, higher CFI and TLI indices, and significantly improved fit by Satorra-Bentler chi-square difference testing. Findings provide evidence that stigma toward mental health among first responders is best conceptualized as a multidimensional construct involving self-stigma and perceived public stigma. These results inform future psychometric research, stigma reduction interventions, and policy efforts aimed at improving help-seeking behaviors within the first responder community.