Myths about suicide - validating the Hungarian version of the Literacy of Suicide Scale (H-LOSS) on a community sample

Abstract

Abstract Background Suicide was exceptionally high in Hungary in the last century. According to Eurostat, Hungary ranks second in the EU in death by suicide and was among the few countries where the suicidal tendencies increased in 2020. Primary tasks of suicide prevention programs are to develop suicide literacy and dispel myths and misconceptions about suicide. Therefore, the goal of our research was the Hungarian validation of the 26-item Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS). Methods: 749 people (382 female (51.0%), 364 male (48.6%), 3 identify as non-binary or other (0.4%); 4 identifying as transgender (0.5%)) participated in our online cross-sectional survey with a mean age of 32.4 years (SD = 14.5 years). The H-LOSS questionnaire was adapted using the 2PL (two-parameter logistic) model with WLSE (weighted least squares) estimation in item response theory method, similarly to the original English version. Results Scale unidimensionality was confirmed. Model fit indices and internal reliability indicators were acceptable. Item infit and outfit values were adequate, item discrimination values were within range, but one item had extremely high and three items had extremely low item difficulty parameters. Few items had differential item functioning by age, gender and own suidice attempt. Conclusions The H-LOSS scale deemed to be appropriate for assessing suicide literacy in Hungarian speaking samples.

Keywords

• Literacy of suicide
• Suicide prevention
• Item response theory
• Validity
• Public population