Abstract
This study aimed to develop and validate a Polish version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (PGIS-II; Robitschek et al. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(2), 274–287, 2012). The PGIS-II assesses skills for intentional cognitive, behavioral, or affective change in one’s life. These skills may promote positive mental health (Robitschek and Hershberger Journal of Counseling & Development, 83(4), 457–469, 2005) that could benefit Polish individuals following cultural and political transformation since the late 1980’s when Poland regained sovereignty from communism (Muszczynski 2015). The second aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis that Personal Growth Initiative (Robitschek Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 30, 183–198, 1998, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 31, 197–210, 1999) may be related to life satisfaction indirectly via presence of meaning in life. Participants were 530 Polish citizens (65.1% female) aged 15–84. Participants completed the PGIS-II (Polish version) and measures to assess construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a 4-factor structure similar to the original PGIS-II structure, with slight differences in item loadings. Internal consistency estimates for the scale and subscales were adequate to strong. PGIS-II (Polish version) scores correlated positively with measures of well-being, providing evidence for concurrent validity of the scale. There was a significant indirect effect of PGI’s relationship with life satisfaction via presence of meaning in life. The Polish version of the PGIS-II shows sound psychometric properties and may be used with Polish populations.
Highlights
This study aimed to develop and validate a Polish version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (PGIS-II; Robitschek et al Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(2), 274–287, 2012)
This increase in change-related distress is paired with a lowered desire among Poles to engage in personal growth because of fear of the need for change being viewed as a personal deficit (Muszczynski 2015), necessitating a need to better understand PGI in the Polish population
Patients with well-developed PGI skills are more likely to be in the action stage of change and may be better able to make a plan and take specific action to resolve their problems than their peers with poorly developed PGI skills (Robitschek and Hershberger 2005)
Summary
This study aimed to develop and validate a Polish version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (PGIS-II; Robitschek et al Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(2), 274–287, 2012). Poland has been impacted by significant societal and cultural changes following the fall of Communism in 1989, as well as Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004, resulting in increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among Poles (Zajenkowska 2016) This increase in change-related distress is paired with a lowered desire among Poles to engage in personal growth because of fear of the need for change being viewed as a personal deficit (Muszczynski 2015), necessitating a need to better understand PGI in the Polish population. In light of these findings, it appears that PGI skills could be an important factor to consider when guiding patients through the change process
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