Validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Young Parent Stigma Scale (YPSS-K)

Purpose: This study aimed to translate the Young Parent Stigma Scale (YPSS) developed by Rice and colleagues into Korean and examine the validity and reliability of the Korean version (YPSS-K) among young parents in Korea.Methods: A methodological design was used. The YPSS was translated into Korean following the World Health Organization’s translation and adaptation guidelines, and content validity was evaluated by five nursing professors. Data were collected between March and April 2024 from 245 parents aged 24 years or younger. Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and item-level convergent validity, item-level discriminant validity, and known-group validity were also examined. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients.Results: The CFA confirmed a four-factor structure with 21 items, demonstrating acceptable model fit (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup>/df=2.84, CFI=.92, TLI=.90, IFI=.92, SRMR=.09, RMSEA=.09). Convergent validity was supported, with average variance extracted values ranging from .52 to .67 and construct reliability values from .79 to .95. Discriminant validity was established using the Fornell–Larcker criterion. Known-group validity was confirmed by significant differences in stigma scores across income levels (Welch’s F=9.47, <i>p</i><.001). Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was .81, and the subscale values ranged from .74 to .95.Conclusion: The YPSS-K demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability, confirming its potential for systematically measuring the multidimensional stigma experiences of young parents in Korea. This instrument can serve as a foundation for developing targeted interventions and policies to reduce stigma toward young parents.