Validation of the Korean version of the Self-Dehumanization Scale

Introduction: Self-dehumanization refers to the perception of oneself as less human, and it has been closely associated with psychological difficulties such as depression, suicidal ideation, and self-hatred. The Self-Dehumanization Scale (SDS) was developed to assess animalistic and mechanistic forms of self-dehumanization. Method: This study aimed to translate and validate a Korean version of the SDS (K-SDS) in an adult sample. An online survey was conducted with Korean adults aged 19 years and older (N = 844). We assessed internal consistency of the K-SDS and performed confirmatory factor analysis to determine the adequacy of the original two-factor structure. Results: Convergent and discriminant validity of the scale were assessed through correlations with measures of depression, suicidal ideation, self-hatred, and perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Measurement invariance was tested across gender, age, and education groups, and latent mean analyses were performed for gender and education levels. Results indicated that the K-SDS demonstrated good internal consistency and that the two-factor structure provided the best model fit. Convergent and discriminant validity were generally supported, with animalistic self-dehumanization showing stronger associations with depression and suicidal ideation. Measurement invariance was established across groups, and latent mean analyses revealed that men reported higher levels of self-dehumanization than women, while individuals with higher education reported significantly lower levels. Discussion: The Korean version of the Self-Dehumanization Scale (K-SDS) demonstrates reliable and valid psychometric properties and may serve as a promising instrument for assessing self-dehumanization in Korean adults.