Psychometric evaluation of the Korean version of the social stigmatization scale with preliminary longitudinal evidence for psychological distress among young adults

Background The mental health of young adults in South Korea has become a significant social issue. In the context of South Korea’s competitive and hierarchical society, social stigma—defined as a devalued social identity shaped by cultural beliefs that label certain attributes as shameful or undesirable—may be relevant to understanding psychological distress among young adults. This study validated the Social Stigmatization Scale (SS) in Korean and examined longitudinal associations between social stigmatization and mental health problems among young adults in South Korea. Methods From an online panel using quota sampling, we recruited 400 Korean young adults in their 20s-30s reporting perceived social stigmatization in at least one social domain. We conducted factor analyses and correlation analyses using the Korean version SS and examined a 7-week longitudinal relationship between social stigmatization, perceived stress, and psychological distress, using a cross-lagged panel model. Results Korean young adults most frequently reported their employment and income statuses as being non-mainstream. The original 18-item SS showed acceptable fit when additional shared variance among the five reverse-scored items was accounted for. The modified 13-item version also demonstrated an acceptable unidimensional structure and high internal consistency. Both versions showed positive correlations with the number of perceived stigmatization domains, social exclusion, thwarted basic psychological needs, and mental health variables. In contrast, negative correlations were identified with feelings of belonging and satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Data from 260 participants in a longitudinal model indicated that the 13-item SS score showed temporal stability ( β = .59, p <.001) and was associated with perceived stress ( β = .21, p = .002) and psychological distress ( β = .11, p = .023), over a 7-week period. Similar associations were observed for the 18-item score. Conclusion The Korean version of the SS demonstrated promising psychometric properties among Korean young adults who reported perceived social stigmatization. The findings suggest that the original 18-item and modified 13-item versions of the SS may be a useful instrument for measuring social stigmatization across diverse socio-cultural contexts shaped by different power dynamics. Preliminary longitudinal evidence suggests that perceived social stigmatization is prospectively associated with subsequent psychological distress.