Creating and Validating a Relational Illness Identity Scale

Though scholars have used Communication Theory of Identity to understand and measure how chronic illness and disability influence one’s personal sense of self, we have yet to quantitatively measure relational illness identity. A new 13-item scale was tested (N = 157), through an exploratory factor analysis, then a second data collection (N = 401) and confirmatory factor analysis. The best model fit was a one-factor, 5-item scale, α = .86. Relational illness identity was negatively, weakly correlated with stigma and positively, weakly, correlated with symptom management. Details on the scale’s statistical validation and its implications are discussed.