The Impact of Event Scale – Revised: psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version in a sample of employees exposed to workplace bullying

Vilija Malinauskienė,Lina Bernotaitė

doi:10.6001/actamedica.v23i3.3384

Vilija Malinauskienė, Lina Bernotaitė

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.6001/actamedica.v23i3.3384

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Abstract

Background.The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) is often used as a self-report instrument for symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS). The objective of this study was to explore the reliability and validity of the Lithuanian IES-R in a sample of employees with exposure to workplace bullying in different occupations.Materials and methods.The original IES-R was translated into Lithuanian, and the comparability of content was verified through back-translation procedures. 294 employees with exposure to workplace bullying (52 teachers from the secondary schools of Kaunas, 56 family physicians, 101 nurses of internal medicine departments, 40 waiters, and 45 seafarers) were administered the Lithuanian IES-R and the General Health Questionnaire – 12 (GHQ-12) in order to verify some aspects of convergent validity. The exploratory factor analysis was used to verify the construct validity of the IES-R.Results.The reliability of the Lithuanian version of the IES-R was verified. Cronbach’s α of the total scale was 0.95. Exploratory factor analysis showed a clear factor structure with three independent dimensions: intrusion, avoidance and hyperarousal. Cronbach’s α for subscales of intrusion, avoidance and hyperarousal were 0.89, 0.85, and 0.88, respectively. The convergent validity was supported by positive correlations between the subscales (intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal) and the GHQ-12.Conclusions.The results suggest that the self-reported Lithuanian IES-R is a valid instrument for assessing the dimensions of post-traumatic stress, has good psychometric properties, and may be applied in prolonged trauma-exposed populations.

Highlights

In 1980, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was introduced into the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), and later into the fourth edition (DSM-IV)
The results suggest that the self-reported Lithuanian Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) is a valid instrument for assessing the dimensions of post-traumatic stress, has good psychometric properties, and may be applied in prolonged trauma-exposed populations
In Lithuania, the psychometric properties of the IES-R were tested in a sample of 475 persons with traumatic experiences evaluated by the Harvard Trauma questionnaire [12]

Summary

Introduction

In 1980, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was introduced into the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), and later into the fourth edition (DSM-IV). On the basis of the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that follows a traumatic event (Criterion A). It is characterized by recurrent re-experiencing of the traumatic event (Criterion B), constant avoidance of trauma-related stimuli and emotional numbing (Criterion C), and persistent symptoms of hyperarousal (Criterion D). The studies investigating the associations between workplace bullying and PTSS are scarce, though good psychometric properties of the IES-R were demonstrated in the investigation of the relationship between exposure to workplace bullying and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in a cross-sectional sample of 221 self-labelled targets of workplace bullying [13] and family physicians [14]. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) is often used as a self-report instrument for symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS). The objective of this study was to explore the reliability and validity of the Lithuanian IES-R in a sample of employees with exposure to workplace bullying in different occupations

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion