Stockholm Syndrome Scale: A Psychometric Evaluation

Mouafo and colleagues (2024) conducted a study on the Stockholm Syndrome Scale, a tool for measuring a person's experience of Stockholm syndrome, and here are some of their key findings:

1. The French version of the Stockholm Syndrome Scale was validated with a three-factor structure:
2. Love Dependence
3. Core Stockholm Syndrome
4. Psychological Damage
5. The scale consists of 16 items that effectively assess these three factors.
6. The scale's psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, were
   good.
7. The scale demonstrates equivalence across marital statuses (married vs. concubine).

What is Stockholm Syndrome?

Stockholm syndrome is a complex psychological response that can develop when a hostage forms a bond with their captor. This can involve feelings of trust, empathy, and even affection towards the captor.

The Study

The research aimed to validate the French version of the Stockholm Syndrome Scale. It involved analyzing the scale's structure, reliability, and validity. Additionally, researchers investigated whether the scale functioned similarly for individuals with different marital statuses. 

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)

This analysis identified three factors underlying the Stockholm Syndrome Scale:

1. Love Dependence: This factor captures feelings of intense attachment and dependence on the captor.
2. Core Stockholm Syndrome: This factor reflects the core aspects of Stockholm syndrome, such as believing the captor is not responsible for the situation and feeling protective towards them.
3. Psychological Damage: This factor assesses the negative psychological consequences of experiencing Stockholm syndrome, such as feelings of worthlessness and isolation.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

This analysis confirmed the three-factor structure identified through EFA and demonstrated that the scale is a unified measure of Stockholm syndrome.

Measurement Equivalence

The study compared the scale's functioning across married and concubine participants. The results showed that the scale functioned similarly for both groups, indicating its applicability to different populations.

Conclusion

The French version of the Stockholm Syndrome Scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing this complex psychological phenomenon. The scale's three-factor structure and measurement equivalence across marital statuses highlight its strengths for research and clinical applications.

References

• Dzuetso Mouafo, Vicky & Nzeuta Lontio, Sylvestre. (2024). Stockholm Syndrome and Gender-Related Ideologies and Attitudes: A Psychometric Assessment. 56-74. 10.11648/j.pbs.20241303.11.