PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

The Japanese version of the Scales of the Attitudes Toward People with Epilepsy (SAPE-J) assesses six facets of attitudes among members of the Japanese public: Social Distance, Concerns, Stereotypes, Fears, Anger, and Pity. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the face-to-face interview survey mode, compared results to online survey data, and evaluated the impact of demographic factors, epilepsy knowledge, and personal experiences with epilepsy on the six SAPE-J facets. Samples comprised 103 interviewees and 985 online survey respondents. Both survey modes show sufficient reliability and convergent validity. Multigroup measurement invariance analyses supported equivalence in item thresholds, loadings, intercepts, and variances. After controlling for covariates, interviewees reported significantly lower Social Distance, Concerns, and Anger, but higher levels of Pity than online participants. Survey mode differences in attitudes highlight the impact of social desirability in face-to-face settings, suggesting caution when directly comparing attitudes assessed through different survey modes.