Abstract
BackgroundBoredom, which is a common problem in the general population, has been associated with several psychiatric disorders. The Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) was developed, based on a theoretically and empirically grounded definition of boredom, to assess this construct. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish validated version of the MSBS in a multi-age sample recruited from the general population.MethodsThe patients (N = 303) were recruited from primary care settings. In addition to the sociodemographic variables and the MSBS, the General Health Questionnaire 28 items (GHQ-28), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Negative subscale and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were administered. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to analyse the dimensionality of the MSBS. Cronbach’s α coefficient was used to analyse the internal consistency of the scale. The consistency of the MSBS over time (test-retest reliability) was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient. The construct validity was examined by calculating Pearson’s r correlations between the MSBS with theoretically related and unrelated constructs. Cronbach’s α for MSBS was 0.89 (95 % CI, 0.87–0.92), ranging from 0.75 to 0.83 for the 5 subscales.ResultsThe characteristics of the final sample (N = 303) were that the participants were primarily female (66.77 %) with a mean age of 49.32 years (SD, 11.46) and primarily European (94.71 %). The CFA of the MSBS confirmed that the original five-factor model showed good fit indices: CFI = .96; GFI = .94; SRMR = .05; and RMSEA = .06 [.05–.08]. Cronbach’s α for MSBS was 0.89 (95 % CI, 0.87–0.92), ranging from 0.75 to 0.83 for the 5 subscales. The MSBS showed a test-retest coefficient measured with an ICC of 0.90 (95 % CI, 0.88–0.92). The ICC for the 5 subscales ranged from 0.81 to 0.89. The MSBS showed a significant negative correlation with MAAS and a significant positive correlation with the GHQ (total score and subscales) and PANAS-Negative Affect.ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the MSBS has been validated as a reliable instrument for measuring boredom in the general population. This study will facilitate the assessment of boredom for clinical and research purposes in Spanish-speaking populations.
Highlights
Boredom, which is a common problem in the general population, has been associated with several psychiatric disorders
Confirmatory factor analysis All of the items were examined in terms of mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis
The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) confirmed that the original five-factor model [1] showed good fit indices: Comparative fit index (CFI) = .96; Goodness of fit index (GFI) = .94; Root mean square error of approximation (SRMR) = .05; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = .06 [.05–.08]
Summary
Boredom, which is a common problem in the general population, has been associated with several psychiatric disorders. Boredom can be defined as “the experience of being disengaged from the world and stuck in a dissatisfying present” [1] It is a common problem: in a survey of North American youth, 91 % of the respondents reported that they experience boredom [2]. It has been associated with several psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety [3], somatisation [4], overeating and binge eating [5], pathological gambling [6], alcohol abuse [7] and marijuana use [8]. They support a multidimensional concept of boredom that includes (a) lack of engagement, (b) low arousal negative affect, (c) high arousal negative affect, (d) the experience of a slow passage of time, and (e) difficulty focusing attention [1]
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