Multidimensional Face Mask Perceptions Scale: Eight Dimensional Measure to Gauge Negative Perceptions of Face Mask Wearing | NLM

Disaster Information Management Research Center | NLM

Multidimensional Face Mask Perceptions Scale: Eight Dimensional Measure to Gauge Negative Perceptions of Face Mask Wearing

07/01/2020 12:00 AM EDT

Source: University of South Alabama. Published: 7/2020. This is a 32-item, eight-dimension, self-report scale that can be administered online or via pencil and paper. The purpose of this scale is to assess perceptions regarding face mask wearing, and it is composed of eight dimensions with four items representing each dimension. The eight dimensions (with example items) are: comfort ("Face masks disrupt my breathing"), efficacy doubts ("Face masks provide few health benefits"), access ("I do not know where to buy a face mask"), compensation ("I stay away from people when I go out"), inconvenience ("I forget to wear a face mask when going out"), appearance ("Face masks look silly"), attention ("Face masks make people seem untrustworthy"), and independence ("I do not like blindly following suggestions"). The scale is administered with the following instructions: "Please indicate the extent to which you disagree to agree with the following statements regarding face masks, which refers to cloth coverings worn on the face typically intended to prevent the spread of disease and illness. Answer each of the following items as if they began with: When I do not wear a face mask in public it is because. . ." The psychometric properties and validity of the scale were strongly supported in a prior study (Howard, 2020). In Study 1, Howard (2020) utilized a qualitative coding approach to create the items based on participants' stated reasons for not wearing face masks. In Study 2, Howard (2020) supported the factor structure of the scale via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), provided evidence of the scale's concurrent validity, and demonstrated that certain dimensions significantly correlated to face mask wearing. In Study 3, Howard (2020) further supported the factor structure of the scale via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Together, these cumulative results provide assurance that this scale adequately gauges face mask perceptions in a multidimensional manner. Population: Adult Workers Adults and Teens All/Anyone Cleanup/Disaster Worker Length: 32 Items Time to Complete: 3 Minutes Mode of Administration: Face-to-face Online (e.g., computer-assisted interview) Pen and Paper Telephone Administered by: Lay Interviewer Parent/Teacher Professional Interviewer Self Administered Specialist/Doctor/Expert Trained Lay Examiner/Interviewer Language(s): English (Text)