Subscale Correlations Research Articles

Validating scores from the short form of the Music Self-Perception Inventory (MUSPI-S) with seventh- to ninth-grade school students in Germany

The Music Self-Perception Inventory-Short (MUSPI-S) is a theoretically based instrument consisting of 28 items with subscales that assess music self-concept globally and in six specific areas. The present study sought to validate a German translation of the MUSPI-S using a sample of 444 secondary school students. In addition to participants’ scores from the German translation of the MUSPI-S, associated data included demographic background variables, self-reported school grades in various subjects, and interest in the school subject of music. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesized factor structure and measurement model for MUSPI-S scores. Latent factor correlations among MUSPI-S subscale scores and correlations of these scores with school grades and interest in the school subject of music aligned well with theoretical expectations and previous research. Findings also provided evidence for strict measurement invariance of scores in the German MUSPI-S across subgroups of gender, school year (i.e., grade level), and musical activity. MUSPI-S subscale factor-level means did not reliably differ among seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students but favored females over males and musically active over non-active students on nearly all subscales. Overall, this evidence supports the use of the German translation of the MUSPI-S in assessing a wide range of important self-perceived musical abilities for research and practical assessment purposes.

Validation of the German version of the Perceived Cohesion Scale.

Team or group cohesion is a multifaceted construct with a variety of definitions and measurement instruments. However, most of these measures are context and group-specific and/or time-consuming. There is no adaptable and economic measure of group cohesion in Germany. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the German version of the 6-item Perceived Cohesion Scale (PCS) in a sample of adult nurses in a German University Hospital. The German version of the PCS was generated according to existing guidelines. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess factor structure. Reliability was tested via internal consistency. To assess convergent and divergent validity, the authors applied the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ), the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients (ENRICHD) Social Support Inventory (ESSI), the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a 2-factor structure. Psychometric properties of the German PCS prove satisfactory. Internal consistency was excellent for the whole scale (α = 0.95), as well as for both subscales: sense of belonging (SOB) (α = 0.94) and morale (MOR) (α = 0.93). Moderate to strong correlations with the subscales of COPSOQ (Kendall's Tau (τ) = 0.239 - 0.471) indicated very good convergent validity. Regarding divergent validity, the correlations of the PCS subscales and the PHQ-4 were low (τ = -0.109-[-0.143]), as were the correlations with ESSI (τ = 0.045-0.136). Correlations with ERI were low to moderate (τ = -0.181-0.283). The German version of the PCS showed good psychometric properties. Due to its economic and universal deployment, group cohesion can be measured in a variety of contexts and settings. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(4):421-32.

A multidimensional tool to measure farm stressors: development and initial validation of the farmer stress assessment tool (FSAT)

BackgroundFarming is a stressful occupation, and a growing body of research shows that farm stressors are associated with poor mental health. To date, there are few methodologically sound surveys that assess farm stressors, and none have been validated for the Canadian context. Our study aimed to: (a) investigate the types of stressors experienced by farmers, (b) develop a farm stress assessment tool and test its factor structure and internal consistency, and (c) assess its criterion-related validity to self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and resilience among farmers.MethodsWe developed a 20-item survey based on a review of the literature, examining existing farm stress surveys, and consulting 10 farmers and agricultural industry experts. Then, a convenience sample of farmers living in Alberta, Canada (Sample 1, N = 354) completed a questionnaire containing the 20-item farm stress survey and four validated measures that assessed depression, anxiety, burnout, and resilience. Sample 1 was used to assess the factor structure using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), internal consistency, and criterion-validity of the survey. Next, a convenience sample of farmers living outside of Alberta (Sample 2, N = 138) was used to evaluate the factor structure of the survey using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsThe results of the EFA revealed five underlying dimensions of farm stressors: Unexpected work disruptions, Agricultural hazards, Farm and financial planning, Isolation, and Regulations and public pressure. The subscales accounted for 61.6% of the variance, and the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) ranged from 0.66 to.75. Subscale correlations were below 0.44, indicating evidence of discriminant validity. Correlations between the five subscales and the four mental health outcome variables supported the criterion-related validity of the survey. The results of the CFA indicated that the data fit the model, and fit was further improved by correlating one pair of error terms.ConclusionsPreliminary analysis of our Farmer Stress Assessment Tool (FSAT) suggests it is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring a range of stressors farmers face. Implications for policy and community-based mental health interventions that help farmers manage the enduring stressors of agriculture is discussed.

A Simplified Version of the Chinese Tinnitus Disorder Scale and its Psychometric Characteristics.

This study aims to design a Concise and Practical Chinese Tinnitus Disorder Scale (CPCTDS), evaluate its psychometric measurement characteristics, and help doctors in making diagnoses and treatments. A sample of 482 tinnitus patients completed CPCTDS. The patients also completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). The eight items of CPCTDS were extracted through its exploratory factor analysis, which had strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.855). The correlations between the total scores of CPCTDS and Tinnitus Disability Inventory (TDI; r = 0.960, P < 0.05) and TFI (r = 0.749, P < 0.05) indicated a good criterion validity. The correlation of the CPCTDS emotional subscale with the TFI emotional subscale (r = 0.650, P < 0.05), CES-D (r = 0.488, P < 0.05), and BAI (r =.384, p< 0.05) showed that the convergent validity of CPCTDS was satisfactory. CPCTDS and the original Chinese version of TDI were highly reliable and valid. This finding shows that the two scales can be reliably used to assess the severity of tinnitus in clinical areas.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Core Symptom Index: A Study among Chinese Parents of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

(1) Background: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders often experience psychological distress, which can affect the quality of childcare they provide. It is crucial to screen for psychiatric symptoms among these parents. The core symptom index (CSI) is a widely recognized tool used to assess general symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic issues. It has proven validity and reliability across diverse Thai populations. Given the cultural similarities between Thai and Chinese populations, the CSI has been successfully implemented within the Chinese population. Nevertheless, it is crucial to research its validity and reliability in the general Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the CSI among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). (2) Methods: A total of 794 Chinese parents raising children with autism participated in this study. All completed the CSI, along with the social inhibition subscale of the Interpersonal Problems Inventory and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Factorial validity was assessed using CFA to determine how well the bifactor three-factor model fits the data. Various structural models were compared using model fit indices. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined by exploring correlations with the social inhibition subscale and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Invariance testing of the CSI was conducted across multiple groups based on gender, age, and education using CFA. The reliability of the CSI was evaluated using McDonald's omega coefficients. (3) Results: The bifactor model emerged as the best-fitting model for the data, suggesting that the total score of the CSI adequately represents overall psychiatric symptoms. The CSI exhibited significant correlations with the social inhibition subscale (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) and smaller correlation coefficients with the Couple Satisfaction Index (r = -0.16, p < 0.05), indicating both convergent and discriminant validity. The invariant test results support scalar invariance levels based on gender and age but only partial invariance for education. The Chinese version of the CSI demonstrated high consistency, with McDonald's omega coefficients ranging between 0.86 and 0.95. (4) Conclusions: The bifactor model of the Chinese version of the CSI is validated, making it a suitable tool for measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms among parent(s) of children with autism spectrum disorders. Further research on other Chinese populations is encouraged.

Validation of the psychoactive substance refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSRSEQ) in adolescent case-clients of social workers in Hong Kong

BackgroundSelf-efficacy is a key concept in various behavioral theories. Refusal self-efficacy is important in understanding issues related to psychoactive substance use. To facilitate related research, this study translated and validated the Chinese version of the 14-item Psychoactive Substance Refusal Self-efficacy Questionnaire (PSRSEQ) among adolescents. There is a debate about whether such a refusal self-efficacy scale should be unidimensional or multidimensional. MethodsA survey was conducted among 601 adolescent case-clients of social workers in Hong Kong from July 2021 to June 2022. Various psychometric properties were examined. ResultsThe confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the original 3-factor structure of the PSRSEQ (emotional relief, opportunistic, and social facilitation refusal self-efficacy), which showed satisfactory psychometric properties (internal consistency, convergent validity in terms of significant negative correlations with the intention of psychoactive substance use in the next year and psychoactive substance use behavior in the past six months, and the absence of floor effect) but ceiling effect was obvious. Notably, unacceptable discriminant validity of one subscale and strong correlations among the three subscales were observed. In another set of analyses using two split-half subsamples, the exploratory factor analysis identified a 1-factor 14-item structure, which was confirmed by CFA and showed satisfactory psychometric properties. ConclusionsThe 1-factor PSRSEQ, instead of the one having a 3-factor structure, was preferred and recommended to assess psychoactive substance refusal self-efficacy among Chinese adolescents. It is warranted to validate the scale in other adolescent and age groups in future studies.

Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Punjabi Version of EPIC.

With earlier prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and increased survivorship, post-treatment quality of life (QoL) has become increasingly important. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) is a widely adopted QoL instrument for PCa. We aimed to create a Punjabi version of EPIC to further research in the Punjabi-speaking population. A prototype of the Punjabi version of EPIC was created by forward-backward translations and revision. After concluding the cultural adaptation phase by interviewing 15 participants, a pilot version was created. Validation of the pilot version was performed by having 72 participants complete the Punjabi EPIC and another commonly used QoL instrument, the EORTC QLQ-c30, twice within a 4-week period. Test retest reliability (Pearson's correlations and difference distribution) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) were measured using SAS version 9.4. Modifications were needed for the prototype Punjabi version after forward-backward translations. Cultural adaptation has highlighted a few issues including syntax and terminology. Test-retest reliability of the Urinary, Bowel, Sexual and Hormone domains were 0.88, 0.91, 0.91, and 0.95, respectively, and subscale correlations ranged from 0.75 to 0.93. Internal consistency for domains and subscales was good except for Sexual Domain. Performance of EPIC is comparable, and in some cases, slightly better than validated Punjabi version of EORTC QLQ-C30. The EPIC questionnaire was successfully translated into Punjabi and was culturally adapted. The resultant Punjabi version has high reliability and validity and will be an important tool for QoL research in the Punjabi population. EPIC was successfully translated, culturally adapted, and validated with high reliability and validity into Punjabi. It will be a valuable QoL tool for physicians in clinical and research settings, and for patients in decision-making.

Measuring civilian moral injury: Adaptation and validation of the Moral Injury Events Scale (Civilian) and Expressions of Moral Injury Scale (Civilian).

Moral injury (MI) research has been expanded to populations beyond the military in recent years. A key barrier to further research into MI in civilian populations is the lack of valid, reliable measures of the construct appropriate for general civilian use. This article addresses this barrier by adapting two existing military measures and exploring their psychometrics in a general civilian sample: the Moral Injury Events Scale-Civilian (MIES-C) and Expressions of Moral Injury Scale-Military (EMIS-C). A sample of civilian women (n = 192) and men (n = 88) completed the above measures, and additional scales designed to capture theoretically supported primary and secondary markers of MI (guilt, shame, anger; depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, anxiety). Confirmatory factor analyses found that the factor structure of the MIES-C and EMIS-C replicated well within our civilian sample. Discriminant validity was indicated through a significant negative correlation with well-being. Both measures correlated as predicted with each other and measures of MI markers at the total score level. Correlations of individual subscales with each of these measures were more varied. Results shed light on differential relationships between the type of MI event and clinical outcomes, suggesting some conceptual differences in how MI is experienced in general civilian populations. Results suggest that civilian populations are also susceptible to MI, but that existing measures may have problems capturing this effectively. While the MIES-C and EMIS-C are supported for civilian use, further scale construction efforts for this population are warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The revival of the psychedelic experience scale: Revealing its extended-mystical, visual, and distressing experiential spectrum with LSD and psilocybin studies.

Research with the Psychedelic Experience Questionnaire/Scale (PES) focuses on questions relating to mystical experience (Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ)). The psychometric potential of the non-MEQ items of the PES remains largely unexplored. We investigated whether the PES also yields subscales besides the MEQ30 subscales. Data from 239 PES measurements (140 healthy participants) from six studies with moderate to high doses of lysergic acid diethylamide and/or psilocybin were included. New subscales (with items other than MEQ30) were created and validated as follows: (1) theoretical derivation of candidate items; (2) removal of items with rare experiences; (3) exploratory factor analysis; and (4) confirmatory factor analysis. Correlations of subscales within the PES and between the PES and the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Scale (5D-ASC) were performed. In addition, a cluster analysis using all items (except rare experiences) was performed. The reliability of the four original factors of the MEQ30 was confirmed and four additional factors for the non-MEQ items were revealed: paradoxicality, connectedness, visual experience, and distressing experience. The first two additional factors were strongly correlated with the MEQ30 mystical subscale. Adding the new subscales to the MEQ30 subscales increased the explained variance with the 5D-ASC. The cluster analysis confirmed our main results and provided additional insights for future psychedelic psychometrics. The study yields a new validated 6-factor structure for extended mystical experience (MEQ40: MEQ30 + Paradoxicality + Connectedness) and covers psychedelic experience as a whole more comprehensively than has hitherto been possible within a single questionnaire (PES48). The entire PES (PES100) can also be used for further future psychedelic-psychometric research.

A - 186 Performance Characteristics of the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology in a Diverse Community Sample of Social Security Disability Applicants.

Analyze performance characteristics of the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) in a diverse community sample of SSDI applicants. 532 adult SSDI applicants providing research consent were administered the SIMS in conjunction with standard psychodiagnostic, intellectual, and neuropsychological assessments performed in a private practice setting. A broad range of ages and referring diagnoses are represented. Mean age was 42years (SD = 13), with 56% female and 44% male. Based on the nature of the examination, WAIS (n = 47), WMS (n = 60), and Trail Making Test (n = 50) data were obtained, along with performance validity tests (PVTs) including Reliable Digit Span (n = 182), Dot Counting Test (n = 18), and Test of Memory Malingering (n = 70). No meaningful age or gender differences emerged across SIMS scores. The mean SIMS Total Score within this population is 22.9 (SD = 10.1). This compares to a suggested manual cutting score of 14-16 for detection of likely noncredible symptom reporting. 69% of this population produced SIMS Total Scores at or above 16, with 45% of the sample scoring 21 or above. Established studies indicate a roughly 46% base rate of symptom invalidity in SSDI applicants. Standard SIMS cutoff scores when used with this population are likely to overestimate invalidity. Upward adjustment to 21 may be indicated for the SIMS Total Score when attempting to capture a portion of the SSDI population more likely to demonstrate symptom invalidity. Individual subscale performances and correlations with concurrently administered Wechsler scales and PVTs are reported, along with data limitations and additional areas of suggested research.

Psychometric properties and observational data for COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRSm) for post-COVID-19 syndrome.

The recently developed modified COVID-19 (coronavirus of 2019) Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRSm) captures comprehensive biopsychosocial components of WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health related to the Long Covid or post-COVID syndrome. The scale response categories on C19-YRSm were done post hoc on data collected from the original version of C19-YRS. To evaluate the C19-YRSm scale using reliability and validity measures. Prospective, observational study. The study includes 369 patients (clinical group) and 426 subjects of the general population (control group) and captures their post-COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, the reliability of C19-YRSm was estimated by Cronbach's alpha coefficients of internal consistency and inter-item correlations for subscales ('Symptom severity, Functional disability, and Other symptoms'). Convergent validity was established using correlations between C19-YRSm and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The incremental validity of C19-YRSm was measured by introducing a hierarchical regression model using the C19-YRSm 'Overall health' subscale and FSS as criterion variables. C19-YRSm subscales have excellent internal consistencies (Cronbach's α value 0.81-0.96) and acceptable inter-item correlations (r value 0.23-0.79). Hereafter, the convergent validity of the C19-YRSm is good due to significant correlations between C19-YRSm subscales and FSS and C19-YRSm subscales. Finally, the hierarchical regression analysis supported consistent evidence for the incremental validity of the C19-YRSm subscales. C19-YRSm is a reliable and valid self-assessment scale for the assessment of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Preliminary Validation of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in China.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common and highly malignant cancer in southern China. It is important to accurately assess the illness perception of nasopharyngeal carcinoma according to the common-sense model of self-regulation. The purpose was to validate the Chinese version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A cross-sectional survey of 631 patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was conducted in Guangzhou, China. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The factor structure was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of each dimension. The EFA revealed that the 29-item self-rated scale has a seven-factor structure consistent with the original scale and explained 67.3% of the variance after extraction and rotation. The scale showed satisfactory reliability. The item-total correlations ranged from -0.16 to 0.64 (p < 0.05). The item-subscale correlations ranged from 0.46 to 0.91 (p < 0.05). The item-other subscale correlations ranged from -0.38 to 0.51 and from -0.21 to 0.56 (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the timeline (acute/chronic) (r = 0.224, r = 0.166), consequences (r = 0.415, r = 0.338), timeline cyclical (r = 0.366, r = 0.284), emotional representations (r = 0.497, r = 0.465), personal control (r = -0.122, r = -0.134), treatment control (r = -0.135, r = -0.148), and illness coherence (r = -0.261, r = -0.213) subscales, and depression, anxiety (p < 0.05). The scale revealed acceptable reliability, factorial validity, and construct validity. It could be used to assess the illness representations of Chinese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Turkish Adaptation of the Children’s Anger Scale: Reliability and Validity Analyses

This study aims to establish a Turkish version of the Children&amp;rsquo;s Inventory of Anger Scale (ChIA) developed by Nelson and Finch (2000) to evaluate the intensity of anger experienced in potentially anger-provoking situations in children. The research sample consists of 502 primary and secondary school students attending their education in Hatay province of Turkiye. In the study, the construct validity of the ChIA, correlations of subscales with each other, criterion relative validity, Cronbach&amp;rsquo;s alpha internal consistency, item-total score correlation, and test-retest reliability coefficients were examined. As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis performed for the construct validity of the scale, it was observed that the ChIA was compatible in four sub-dimensions as in the original scale and all items were placed in the relevant sub-scale. In addition, Cronbach&amp;rsquo;s alpha coefficient of the ChIA was found to be .87, .78, .82, .75, and .81 for the sub-scales of inhibition, physical aggression, peer relations, and authority relations, respectively; test-retest consistency was found to be .83, .80, .82, .87 and .81 for inhibition, physical aggression, peer relations, and authority subscales, respectively. Statistical analyses of the ChIA have shown that it is a valid and reliable scale that can be used to measure the expression of anger and the impact of anger on personal relationships while assessing specific situations that cause anger in children aged 8-11 years.

The Anthroposophic Artistic Movement Assessment for Eurythmy Therapy (AART-ASSESS-EuMove). A validation study

ObjectiveEurythmy Therapy (ET) is a mindfulness oriented therapy developed in the context of anthroposophic medicine. Despite commonly used in practice, it remains unclear whether active participation (Inner Correspondence) during ET can be observed in eurythmy gestures (EGest). So far, no validated peer-report instrument to evaluate EGest exists. MethodTo validate an 83-item ET peer-report scale, a nested study on a sample of n = 82 breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue was conducted. EGest were evaluated twice, at baseline and at 10-week follow-up, by peer-reports from two separate therapists. Interrater-reliability (IRR) was estimated by Cohen’s weighted kappa (κw) across all items. Additionally, reliability-(RA) and principal component analyses (PCA) were conducted. Patients completed two self-report scales: Satisfaction with ET (SET) and Inner Correspondence with the Movement Therapy (ICPH). ResultsIRR was greater than or equal (κw ≥ 0.25) for 41 items (49.3%) with a mean weighted kappa of κ̅w = 0.40 (SD = 0.17, range = 0.25–0.85). RA resulted in the exclusion of 25 items with insufficient item-total correlations < 0.40. A PCA with 16 items revealed 3 subscales: 1. Mindfulness in Movement (8 items), 2. Motor Skills (5 items), 3. Walking Pattern (3items) explaining 63.86% of total variance. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) was high for the sum score with α = 0.89 and for the subscales with α = 0.88, 0.86 and 0.84 respectively. Significant small to moderate subscale correlations were found ranging from r = 0.29–0.63 (all p < 0.01). Mindfulness in Movement correlated with Inner Correspondence (r = 0.32) and with Satisfaction with ET (r = - 0.25, both p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe new AART-ASSESS-EuMove is the first consistent and reliable peer-report instrument to evaluate EGest. It shows associations between peer-reported Mindful Movement and patients’ self-reported ICPH and SET.

The Swedish version of EMPATHIC-30 translation and initial psychometric evaluation.

One way to measure quality of care is by measuring satisfaction of provided care among patients and their families. EMpowerment of PArents in THe Intensive Care 30 (EMPATHIC-30) is a self-reported questionnaire grounded on the principles of FCC aiming to measure parents' satisfaction with paediatric intensive care. There is lack of Swedish questionnaires measuring satisfaction with paediatric intensive care based on family-centered care principles. The aim was to translate the instrument EMpowerment of PArents in THe Intensive Care 30 (EMPATHIC-30) into the Swedish language and evaluate psychometrically the Swedish version in a paediatric intensive care context. The instrument EMPATHIC-30 was translated and adapted to Swedish context, thereafter, assessed by expert panels consisting of nurses (panel one; n=4; panel two; n=24) and parents (n=8) with experience in paediatric intensive care. Construct validity, item characteristics and reliability were tested in a cohort of 97 parents whose child had been treated for at least 48 h at two out of four Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICUs) in Sweden. Parents whose child died during hospitalisation were excluded. The Swedish version of EMPATHIC-30 showed an acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale 0.925. Cronbach's alpha on the domain level varied between 0.548-0.792 with the lowest coefficient in the domain Organisation. Inter-scale correlation revealed acceptable correlations for both subscales (0.440-0.743) and between total scale and subscales (0.623-0.805), which demonstrated good homogeneity for the instrument in its entirety. One problem regarding the domain Organisation and especially the item "It was easy to contact the pediatric intensive care unit by telephone" was revealed, which indicated that the item needs to be reformulated or that the factor structure needs to be further evaluated. The findings from the current study indicated that the Swedish version of EMPATHIC-30 has acceptable psychometric properties and can be used in Swedish PICUs. Using EMPATHIC-30 in clinical practice can give an indication of the overall quality of family-centered care at the PICU.

Prediction of emotion regulation strategies and psychological hardiness based on components of meaning in life among adults of Tehran

Introduction: The present study has aimed to predict the psychological hardiness and emotion regulation strategies based on components of meaning of life, in adults of Tehran city. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using Correlation Method. 384 subjects were chosen from 22 regions of Tehran city from 1395 to 1396, by clustered sampling, and participated in the study. The data were collected through ‘’meaning in life” questionnaire-MLQ-(Steger et al, 2006), “cognitive-emotional regulation” questionnaire (CERQ), and “Ahwaz Hardiness Inventory” (AHI). And the resultant data were analyzed step by step by correlation scales and regression analysis, using version 18th of SPSS software. Results: According to the results, the presence of meaning subscale, has negative and significant correlation with other-blame and catastrophizing, and has positive and significant correlation with putting into perspective, positive refocusing, positive reappraisal, and planning. Regression analysis results suggested that 28% of variations in positive refocusing, 29% of variations in planning, 33% of variations in positive reappraisal, 22% of variations in putting into perspective, 4% of variations in catastrophizing, and 8% of variations in other-blame, are predictable through the presence of meaning subscale. Also, presence of meaning subscale, had positive and significant correlation with psychological hardiness(r=0.66), and 43% of variations in psychological hardiness was predictable by presence of meaning subscale. Conclusion: The present study results showed that presence of meaning component, had role in predicting psychological hardiness and emotion regulation strategies.

Understanding the relation between the need and ability to achieve closure: A single paper meta-analysis assessing subscale correlations

The need for closure and the ability to achieve closure are generally thought to be independent from one another. However, previous researchers have found inconsistent relations between these two variables, possibly due to measurement scale modifications that slightly shifted how the underlying constructs were assessed. The present research attempted to address some of these methodological issues with previous research by conducting a single-paper meta-analysis on the correlations between the ability to achieve closure scale and the full need for closure scale and each of its five subscales. Across six university student samples (N = 1983), the full need for closure scale and most of its subscales were significantly negatively correlated with the ability to achieve closure. This finding suggests that the ability to achieve closure affects the costs and benefits of closure and therefore, consistent with lay epistemic theory, the ability to achieve closure predicts individual differences in the need for closure.

Preliminary validation of the Chinese version of the Shame and Stigma Scale among patients with facial disfigurement from nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

This study examined the reliability and validity of a Shame and Stigma Scale (SSS) and assessed shame and stigma among patients with facial disfigurement from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Data were collected from 218 patients with NPC through a cross-sectional survey between January 14, 2020, and December 1, 2020. The original SSS is a 20-item scale with four dimensions (i.e., shame with appearance, sense of stigma, regret, and social/speech concern). We used Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega to assess reliability and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the factor structure. We also used Pearson correlation analysis to examine the relationship between each item and total score of scale items and convergent validity. The final 18-item SSS had a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .89. The EFA revealed that the SSS has a four-factor structure: sense of stigma, social/speech concern, shame with appearance, and regret. These factors showed satisfactory reliability, with McDonald's omega coefficients of .87, .77, .86, and .79, respectively. The scale showed significant relationship between each item and total score of scale items with respect to item-total correlations, item-subscale correlations, and item-other-subscale correlations. Convergent validity was supported by the significant positively correlated with the total scores for depression and anxiety. The SSS is valid and reliable in assessing shame and stigma and monitoring treatment compliance among patients with NPC.

Associations between single-question Visual Analogue Scale pain score and weight-bearing and non–weight-bearing domains of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index pain: data from 2 phase 3 clinical trials

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the pain subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) are commonly used measuring tools of osteoarthritis (OA) pain. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the associations between single-question VAS pain and the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing domains of WOMAC pain. Data from 2093 patients with OA participating in 2 phase 3 clinical trials were included for post hoc analyses. Univariate Pearson correlations and comparison of r values were made using z statistics obtained using the Fisher r to z test for all items of the VAS pain scale, the WOMAC pain subscale, the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing constructs of WOMAC pain subscale, and by subgroups of WOMAC pain quintiles and Kellgren-Lawrence grades. The correlations between VAS pain and WOMAC pain were significant (r = 0.67, P < 0.001) with a slope of 0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54-0.61). A similar correlation was found for weight-bearing pain (r = 0.68, P < 0.001, slope: 0.62 (95% CI: 0.59-0.65) but significantly lower for non-weight-bearing pain (r = 0.55, P < 0.001, slope: 0.49 (95% CI: 0.46-0.52). The degree of disagreement between the 2 instruments seemed to be lesser in the extreme ends of the scales, and the observed association between Kellgren-Lawrence grade and disagreement between VAS and WOMAC was driven by non-weight-bearing pain. In conclusion, VAS pain and WOMAC pain subscale correlation was found to be moderate and the VAS pain scale correlated more accurately with the WOMAC pain weight-bearing questions. This constitutes novel insight into patient with OA pain reporting.

The pandemic coping scale – validity and reliability of a brief measure of coping during a pandemic

ABSTRACT This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Pandemic Coping Scale (PCS), a new brief measure of coping with pandemic-related stressors. Methods The PCS was administered to N = 2316 German participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was applied among random splits of the sample. Global goodness of fit (χ 2, RMSEA, SRMR, CFI, TLI), local goodness of fit (factor loadings, communalities, factor reliability, discriminant validity) and additional test quality criteria (internal consistency, item discrimination and difficulty) were evaluated for a four-factor model vs. a four-factor model combined with a second-order general factor. Convergent and divergent validity were examined by Pearson correlations of the PCS subscales with the Brief-COPE subscales; criterion validity was evaluated by correlations with wellbeing (WHO-5), depressive (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-2). Results Exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor solution (‘Healthy Lifestyle’, ‘Joyful Activities’, ‘Daily Structure’, ‘Prevention Adherence’). Confirmatory factor analysis showed a sufficient global fit for both specified models which did not differ in their fit to the data. Local goodness of fit indices showed moderate to large factor loadings and good factor reliabilities except for the subscale ‘Prevention Adherence’. Internal consistencies were good for the PCS total scale (α = .83), the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ (α = .79) and the ‘Daily Structure’ (α = .86) subscales, acceptable for ‘Joyful Activities’ (α = .60), and low for ‘Prevention Adherence’ (α = .52). The four subscales evidenced convergent and divergent validity with the Brief-COPE subscales. The subscales ‘Healthy lifestyle’, ‘Joyful activities’ and ‘Daily structure’ showed criterion validity with wellbeing, depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions The PCS is a reliable and valid measure to assess pandemic-specific coping behavior in the domains of ‘Healthy Lifestyle’, ‘Joyful Activities’, and ‘Daily Structure’. The PCS subscale ‘Prevention Adherence’ might be improved by adding items with varying item difficulties.