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Table 2 Development of the What Worries Me Scale

From: Preliminary analysis of validation evidence for two new scales assessing teachers’ confidence and worries related to delivering mental health content in the classroom

Item pool development

Response process evidence

Original Qualitative Responses

Original WWMS Items

Reworded WWMS Items

“Saying the wrong thing that may trigger a student with an undiagnosed issue”

1. I worry I may trigger an emotional reaction in a student with a mental health difficulty

“I worry that speaking about mental health problems may cause some students to identify with mental health conditions that they truly do not possess”

2. Cause a student to identify with a mental illness that they do not have

“I am not qualified and am worried I will do more damage than good”

“I don’t want to say or do something that makes things worse”

3. Do more damage than good

“Actually, sparking the idea into a student who is doing just fine and then them second guessing themselves”

4. Cause students to second-guess their own mental health.

“I worry about the glamorization of mental illness and the stigma”

5. Glamorize mental illness

“Being aware of the potential sensitivities of students with mental health problems and how to present in a way that does not make them feel that the class is focused on them”

6. Embarrass students who do have mental health difficulty

Single out a student who does have a mental health difficulty

“I don’t want to say something that will make things worse for a student who is struggling”

7. Make things worse for a student who has a mental health difficulty

“I am most worried about sharing incorrect information or information that is not appropriate for the students”

“I am concerned that I do not have enough training to teach about mental health”

8. Convey inaccurate information

a

“I am worried about saying the wrong thing to the students”

“I am worried I’ll say something that offends someone dealing with a mental health issue”

9. Offend someone that is dealing with a mental health issue

Say the wrong thing

“Not being able to properly answer a student’s question”

10. Answer a question incorrectly

 

11. Be seen as the “expert”

Not focus group tested

 

12. Overstep my boundaries

Not focus group tested

 

13. See something as a small problem when really, it’s a big problem

Not focus group tested

 

14. Be unable to help a student

Not focus group tested

 

15. Be seen as judgmental

Not focus group tested

 

16. Trigger an emotional reaction in myself

Not focus group tested

  1. Note. Bolded text indicates wording changes that were made as a result of focus group testing
  2. aItem recommended for removal due to similarity to Item 10
  3. -- indicates no wording changes were suggested