Including Factor Structure Research Articles

Psychometric Validation of the Slovenian Version of the Children's Automatic Thoughts Scale (CATS).

It is hypothesized that cognitions influence the development of affective disorders. Depression and anxiety are prevalent in both adults and youth. The Children's Automatic Thoughts Scale (CATS) assesses internalizing and externalizing negative automatic thoughts in children and adolescents. This study examined the psychometric properties- including factor structure, internal consistency and convergent validity- of the Slovenian version of CATS in a normative school sample (N = 754) of Slovenian adolescents aged 10 to 18. Additionally, the short-term stability of negative automatic thoughts over a three-month period was assessed in a subsample of 117 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis showed the best fit for the bifactor model, with one general and four specific factors (CFI = 0.963, TLI = 0.958, RMSEA = 0.045). Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω ranged from 0.81 to 0.96 for the total scale and subscales. The total score and subscales correlated significantly with the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. The Slovenian version of CATS shows good psychometric properties in the school sample.

Translation and validation of the Czech Partner version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R)

ABSTRACT Background The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) is a widely used, psychometrically robust and brief self-report measure of birth experience from the mothers perspective. The current study sought to adapt and validate the BSS-R for partners, evaluating key psychometric properties, including the underlying tri-dimensional factor structure of stress experienced, personal attributes and quality of care. Aim To translate and validate a Czech speaking partner version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) and examine key measurement characteristics and association with fundamental clinical outcome variables. Method Following translation of the UK partner BSS-R into Czech, the Czech Partner BSS-R (CZP-BSS-R) was administered to 225 partners of women who had given birth within the past 5-years. Key psychometric characteristics were examined, including factor structure, divergent and known-groups discriminant validity and internal reliability, Results Established measurement models of the BSS-R observed in mothers were found to offer an excellent fit to partner data. The CZP-BSS-R also demonstrated excellent validity and reliability characteristics. Conclusions The CZP-BSS-R was found to be valid and reliable, with results from Czech partners ‘mirroring’ factor structure and key validity characteristics previously established in Czech mothers. The BSS-R validated for completion by Czech speaking mothers now has a matched version available for use with Czech speaking partners.

Beyond sound irritation: cross-cultural evidence on the robustness of the five aspects of misophonic experience measured by the S-Five in a Polish sample.

Misophonia is commonly associated with negative emotional or physiological responses to specific sounds. However, the consensus definition emphasizes that misophonia entails much more than that. Even in cases of subclinical misophonia, where individuals do not meet the disorder criteria, the experience can still be burdensome, despite not currently causing significant distress or impairment. The S-Five is a psychometric tool for comprehensive assessment of five aspects of misophonic experience: internalizing, externalizing, impact, threat, and outburst, and includes S-Five-T section to evaluate feelings evoked by triggering sounds and their intensity. We examined whether the five-factor structure developed in the UK could be replicated in a Polish sample, including individuals with and without self-identified misophonia. The Polish version of the S-Five was translated and tested on 288 Polish-speaking individuals. Comprehensive psychometric evaluation, including factor structure, measurement invariance, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity evaluations, was conducted on the translated scale. Exploratory factor analysis suggested similar structure to the original English study, while bootstrap exploratory graph analysis showed the factor structure to be reproducible in other samples. The scale was found to be bias free with respect to gender, internally consistent and stable in time, and evidence of validity was provided using MisoQuest and Misophonia Questionnaire. These results offer support for the cross-cultural stability of the five factors and provide preliminary evidence for the suitability of the Polish version for clinical and research purposes. The study also investigated five facets of misophonia, triggering sounds, emotional responses, and their associations with symptoms of psychopathology across various cultures. It underscores the central role of anger, distress, and panic, while also highlighting the mixed role of irritation and disgust in misophonia across different cultural contexts. Mouth sounds evoked the most pronounced reactions compared to other repetitive sounds, although there were discernible cultural differences in the nature and intensity of reactions to various trigger sounds. These findings hold significant implications for future research and underscore the importance of considering cultural nuances in both research and the clinical management of misophonia.

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Impostor Profile scale (IPP30).

The Impostor Profile scale (IPP30) is a recently developed tool designed to delve into the nuanced aspects of the Impostor Phenomenon (IP), a psychological phenomenon where individuals wrongly attribute their successes to external factors, discounting their own abilities and often feeling like frauds. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties, including factor structure, internal consistency, and nomological validity, of the Swedish version of IPP30 (S-IPP30). In a sample of Swedish students (N = 1,010; 76.7% women; Mage = 25.65, SDage = 6.43), Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses were conducted to scrutinize S-IPP30's structure. The analyses supported a bifactor model with six specific factors and one overarching factor. However, two items in the scale displayed poor alignment with their intended subscales, adversely affecting the internal consistency of the two subscales. Consequently, a rephrasing of these items was suggested. The remaining four S-IPP30 subscales exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.76-0.90, McDonald's ω = 0.77-0.91). Convergent validity was confirmed by largely replicating correlations among various S-IPP30 facets, the unidimensional IP measure, personality variables, and self-esteem, thereby accomplishing the goal of validating S-IPP30. This proposed modification of the two items requires further validation using a new sample to ensure its appropriateness and effectiveness in measuring the intended constructs.

Psychometric Validation of an Instrument for Measuring Patient Experiences with Outpatient Healthcare.

Recently, a patient-reported experience measure (PREM) was developed in Slovenia to assess patients' experiences with outpatient specialist healthcare clinics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties (including factor structure, reliability, convergent validity, and response distribution) of the questionnaire. The sample consisted of 8,406 adult participants treated in 171 specialist clinics from different medical fields. Participants voluntarily and anonymously responded to either the paper or online survey. Descriptive statistics show meaningful response patterns with a general tendency towards favourable assessments. The psychometric analyses of the scales evaluating doctor's and nurses' work, respectively, generally showed a good fit of the unidimensional factor model as well as the Rasch model, high factor loadings and very good to satisfactory reliability. The Rasch scaling showed that these scales were most informative for patients with relatively unfavourable experience ratings. The results are similar to those found in previous evaluations of PREMs in other countries. Given its good psychometric properties, the Slovenian PREM can be recommended for healthcare evaluations in Slovenia and as a model for the development of similar PREMs in other countries.

Investigating Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of Sosu Critical Thinking Disposition Scale: Evidence from Two Independent Samples

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of Sosu Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (TV-CTDS). The data were gathered from two independent samples consisting of undergraduate and graduate students from four different universities in the Black Sea region of Turkey. After the translation procedure, the psychometric properties of the TV-CTDS, including factor structure, measurement invariance, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and reliability, were investigated. The results of the study revealed that the two-factor model (critical openness and reflective skepticism) of the TV-CTDS presented a better fit to the data than the one-factor model, and two-factor model is invariant across different samples (undergraduate and graduate students) and genders. Also, the TV-CTDS showed convergent validity and discriminant validity across two different samples, and its internal consistency was adequate. Therefore, it can be said that the TV-CTDS can be used by educators, researchers, and professionals to assess undergraduate and graduate students’ critical thinking dispositions in Turkey.

A Validation Study of the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction in Sexually Active Adolescents

ABSTRACT Positive views of adolescents’ sexuality have only begun to garner interest in the last two decades. Despite great strides in this emerging area, progress is limited by the paucity of valid and reliable measures among this population. The goal of this study was to validate the widely used adult five-item Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX) in a large sample of sexually active adolescents. A total of 1,036 adolescents (516 girls, 49.8%) aged between 14 and 17 years (Mage = 14.62; SD = 0.66) were recruited to investigate the reliability and validity of the GMSEX. The GMSEX yielded strong psychometric properties in adolescents, including factor structure, measurement invariance, and reliability. Results showed that the scale works similarly for boys and girls as well as for heterosexual, cisgender, and sexual minority adolescents. The GMSEX is a short, reliable, and valid measure of sexual satisfaction that can be used in future studies focusing on adolescents’ sexuality and relationships.

Validation of the YLS/CMI on an Australian Juvenile Offending Population.

There is a wealth of research that shows juvenile justice systems that utilize structured and validated assessment tools, such as the YLS/CMI, are far more effective at reducing rates of recidivism than those who do not. In line with this research, the Department of Justice (DoJ) in Western Australia adopted the YLS/CMI as the standard risk assessment tool for evaluating the criminogenic risk and needs of youth entering the justice system. While there is evidence supporting the utility of the YLS/CMI in predicting recidivism, there is little research demonstrating its effectiveness in Australian juvenile populations and no such research in a West Australian population. There is also a lack of research on the utility of the tool with young Indigenous offenders, which is particularly concerning given the significant overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the Australian criminal justice system. Our study was the first to examine the reliability and predictive validity of the YLS/CMI on a sample of West Australian juvenile offenders. In this paper, we present the results of two analyses. The first examines the properties of the YLS/CMI in a cohort of 4,653 juvenile offenders in Western Australia, including factor structure, internal consistency, and differences between male and female youth and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Consistent with our hypotheses, the tool demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = .91) and cross-validation analyses identified significant differences between groups on total YLS scores and risk domains. The second analysis examines the predictive validity of the YLS/CMI in a subsample of 921 youth with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. The overall recidivism rate was 74.8% and there were differences in scores and recidivism rates for Indigenous compared to non-Indigenous youth, although the predictive accuracies in terms of AUC were similar (c. = 0.65 and 0.66, respectively).

Psychometric Properties of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Factor Structure, Reliability, Correlates, and Discrimination.

Sleep disturbances and poor sleep are a common complaint in the population with multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. The most commonly reported scale is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), measuring seven components of sleep quality. Yet, till today, the PSQI instrument has not been validated in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The objective of our study was to add precision in sleep quality assessment by investigating the psychometric properties of PSQI (factor structure, reliability, validity based on relations with other variables, cut-off scores) in pwMS. The cross-sectional study included data on a total of 87 patients with MS and 216 control subjects. Demographic information, education level, and MS-related variables were ascertained. Psychometric properties were examined by estimating the validity, including factor structure, metric invariance, and relations with other MS- and non-MS-related variables, reliability, and discrimination ability of the PSQI. The Croatian version of the PSQI had a two-factor structure which demonstrated loading and partial intercept invariance between pwMS and the control group. The global score and both subscales had high internal consistencies (McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients) in pwMS and showed expected relations with demographic and MS-related variables. PwMS differed significantly in the PSQI global score from the control groups, although receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis did not indicate a clear cut-off point. The PSQI is a reliable and valid scale and can be applied in clinical settings for assessing sleep quality in pwMS.

Cultural Capital Diversification: The Development and Validation of a Scale

Although prominent in the sociology and education literatures, the concept of cultural capital (e.g., knowledge, skills, interests, hobbies, etc.) has also recently garnered interest from management scholars. Theory suggests that employees may rely upon cultural tools (e.g., behaviors and worldviews) acquired from experiences in various social class cultures, and that possessing these tools may have work-related benefits. However, to investigate this claim, it is necessary to first develop conceptual clarity around and a valid measure of this cultural “toolkit.” Thus, we introduce the term cultural capital diversification—defined as an individual’s developmental tendency to switch adaptively between social class contexts—and develop and validate a measure consistent with this definition. In particular, we first assess content validity of the measure among a sample of subject matter experts. Then, across two additional samples, we examine the measure’s psychometric properties including factor structure, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity. Further efforts are underway to examine the nomological network of our scale. Together, these studies provide support for the validity of our nine-item cultural capital diversification scale.

Korean Version of the Patient Dignity Inventory: Translation and Validation in Patients With Advanced Cancer

ContextThe goal of palliative care is to maximize the quality of life and thus maintain the dignity of patients facing problems associated with a life-threatening illness. The Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) is an instrument used to measure various sources of distress that can impact patients’ sense of dignity at the end of life. ObjectivesWe aimed to obtain a Korean translation of the PDI (PDI-K) and evaluate its psychometric properties in patients with advanced cancer. MethodsTranslation and cultural adaptation of the PDI were performed to obtain the Korean version. In a sample of 131 inpatients and outpatients with advanced cancer, psychometric properties, including factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity, were examined. Concurrent validity was evaluated using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being. ResultsCronbach's α for the PDI-K was 0.96. Four factors were identified by exploratory factor analysis, accounting for 68.7% of the overall variance: Dependency and Physical Symptoms, Psychological Distress, Existential Distress, and SocialSupport. Concurrent validity was confirmed by significant correlations between PDI-K and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (r = 0.40 to 0.59, P < 0.001), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (r = 0.78 to 0.81, P < 0.001), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (r = −0.32 to −0.57, P < 0.001). ConclusionOur findings indicate that the PDI-K is a valid and reliable instrument to measure dignity-related distress in patients with advanced cancer. This tool provides a four-factor Korean language alternative to the PDI.

Resilience, depression and anxiety and hazardous alcohol use behaviour among community dwelling older adults

ABSTRACT Introduction We examined the psychometric properties of the CD-RISC, including factor structure. Secondly, we examined if resilience factors moderate the association between negative affect and hazardous alcohol use. Method The sample population consisted of 1,368 community-dwelling older adults. We used standardized questionnaires to collect self-reported data on alcohol use behaviour, depression and anxiety and resilience by using respectively the Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Results Of the total sample (N 1.368), 80.1% reported using alcohol. The total sample and the drinking sample reported, respectively, a mean of 65.75 (SD 15.40) and 65.79 (SD 15.90) on the CD-RISC. Concerning the CD-RISC, exploratory factor analysis presents four factors of which three with a good reliability. Moderation analyses reflects that older adults with higher levels of resilient characteristics didn’t report an association between negative affect and hazardous drinking. Alternatively, low resilient older adults did report an positive and significant association between negative affect and hazardous drinking. Conclusion The CD-RISC appeared to be a reliable instrument, containing three factors. In our sample, high resilience moderated the association between negative affect and hazardous drinking and may serve as a buffer against hazardous drinking.

Revisiting nutrition backlash: Psychometric properties and discriminant validity of the nutrition backlash scale.

Nutrition backlash is a disposition defined by negative feelings about dietary recommendations. Past research has measured nutrition backlash using the nutrition backlash scale (NBS) and found that it is negatively related to the consumption of fruits and vegetables. The aim of this study was to examine several aspects of the NBS, including factor structure, discriminant validity, and relationship to demographic characteristics and health behaviors. Adults were recruited to participate in two studies. Study 1 (N=480) included measures of nutritional backlash, information overload, worry, fatalism, and nutrition-related behaviors. Study 2 (N=399) was a follow-up that examined the factor structure of the NBS in a separate sample. In study 1, a six-item version of the NBS was found to be a good fit for the data and discriminant from overload, worry, and fatalism. NBS was higher for those with less education, non-white participants, and men. Individuals with higher backlash were less likely to look at nutritional labels and to use sunscreen. Study 2 confirmed the factor structure from study 1. A six-item version of the NBS was found to be reliable, discriminant from related measures, higher in underserved groups (less-educated, non-white, and male participants), and related to nutrition label use.

Development of the Japanese version of the cognitive failure scale (the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses) for Japanese women involved in child care

Objectives Child care involves mentally and physically intensive work. Women involved in child care are prone to various cognitive failures (e.g., forgetting to carry something or missing an appointment) because of being overburdened with child care activities and chores, constantly limited attention for coping with the frequent demands of children, and cognitive deterioration in the perinatal period. We conducted a survey of women caring for children aged 3 months to 6 years old, aiming to 1) develop a Japanese version of the cognitive failure scale (named the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses [SIML]), and 2) examine the psychometric properties of the scale (including factor structure, validity, reliability, and score distribution), and comparing the scale score according to job status, the youngest child's age, and the number of children.Methods We used data obtained through an internet research company from 310 women (aged 25-45 years; 155 full-time workers and 155 housewives), caring for children aged 3 months to 6 years old. We used the 15-item SIML with a five-point Likert-type scale. We also collected information about employment status, maternal age, the youngest child's age, the number of children, income, the status of using child-care services, sleep duration, fatigue, and neuroticism.Results The scale consisted of one factor. Cognitive failure was found to have the following correlations with memory complaints (polyserial correlation=0.66), sleep duration (r=-0.17), fatigue (r=0.32), and neuroticism (r=0.22). Cronbach's alpha for the scale was 0.94. A three-way analysis of variance (including main effects of working status, the youngest child's age, and the number of children) in cognitive failure revealed significant main effects of the youngest child's age (aged 0-3 years: mean (standard deviation [SD])=34.9 (11.5) point, > aged 4-6 years: mean (SD)=32.6 (10.5) point, partial η2=0.013), and the number of children (only one: mean (SD)=32.4 (11.3) points < two or more: mean (SD)=34.9 (10.9) points, and partial η2=0.014). A three-way analysis of covariance in cognitive failure adjusted for mother's age demonstrated a significant main effect of the youngest child's age (partial η2=0.014).Conclusion Our findings confirmed the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of SIML among women involved in child care (including factor structure, validity, reliability, and score distribution).

Validation of the Supportive Care Needs Survey Screening Tool Chinese Version for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer in Taiwan.

The increasing number of cancer survivors and the trend of shifting cancer treatments into outpatient clinics have increased rapidly the supportive care needs of patients with cancer. However, no brief assessment tool is available to screen for these needs. In this study, we aimed to (a) translate and develop a nine-item Chinese version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey Screening Tool (SCNS-ST9-C) and (b) examine the psychometric properties of this tool in a sample of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in Taiwan. In this two-phase instrument validation study, the SCNS-ST9-C was translated and evaluated for content, face validity, and feasibility in Phase I and was examined for internal consistency reliability and construct validity (including factor structure and theoretically supported correlations) on a sample of patients with HNC in Phase II. In Phase I, the SCNS-ST9-C was translated and developed by three bilingual doctoral-prepared nurse researchers (Chinese and English). A standardized score system ranging from 0 to 100 was built, with higher scores indicating higher unmet supportive care needs. Good content and face validity were confirmed by five cancer care experts and 20 patients with HNC, respectively. In Phase II, 116 subjects were recruited. A clear four-factor structure, which incorporated one of the original five dimensions (sexuality care needs, with one item) into the dimension of psychological and emotional care needs, was identified using exploratory factor analysis. Good internal consistency reliability for the overall SCNS-ST9-C was supported by a Cronbach's α of .75 and its four subscales (domains). Good construct validity was also confirmed by the theoretically supported correlations. Better performance status and longer time since treatment completion correlated negatively with the SCNS-ST9-C (i.e., lower unmet care needs), whereas higher distress (anxiety, depression, and symptoms) correlated positively with the SCNS-ST9-C (i.e., greater unmet care needs). Female patients reported higher overall unmet care needs and psychological and emotional care needs and higher scores on the care and support needs subscale than male patients. The SCNS-ST9-C is a brief, low-burden, and psychometrically valid instrument that may be applied in ethnically Chinese settings. This tool takes 1-2 minutes to complete. Further testing of the psychometrics of this instrument in different cancer populations is recommended.

Infant mental health home visiting therapists' reflective supervision self-efficacy in community practice settings.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the research on reflective supervision, including the development of tools designed to measure reflective practice in the context of reflective supervision. The Reflective Supervision Self-Efficacy Scale for Supervisees (RSSESS) is a self-report measure that has been used in previous evaluations and is designed to assess perceived reflective practice self-efficacy for Infant Mental Health-Home Visiting (IMH-HV) therapists. Properties of the RSSESS including factor structure and reliability are explored in a first study that lays the foundation for the use of the RSSESS in an IMH-HV evaluation in the State of Michigan. IMH-HV therapists completed the RSSESS at 4 time points over a 12-month period and also completed a Clinician Profile Form that included questions about their IMH background and their work experience, including job satisfaction and burnout. Results indicated that the RSSESS is a reliable tool to measure change in reflective practice skills. IMH-HV therapists demonstrated growth in their use of reflective practice skills with families and their observational skills over the 12-month period. In addition, results indicated correlations between reflective supervision self-efficacy and job satisfaction as well as burnout.

Psychometric evaluation of the revised child and family quality of life questionnaire (CFQL-2)

BackgroundThe revised Child and Family Quality of Life (CFQL-2) questionnaire was adapted from the original version to be shorter and more sensitive to changes in psychosocial quality of life (QoL) in families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or related neurodevelopmental conditions. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the CFQL-2. MethodsCaregivers of 566 patients presenting to an ASD-specific diagnostic clinic completed the CFQL-2 and other behavioral measurements as part of a diagnostic evaluation. Psychometric properties, including factor structure, internal consistency reliability, reliability across the latent trait, relationships with other clinical measures, and ASD vs. non-ASD group differences were examined for the total score and each subscale. Test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change were evaluated in a separate sleep intervention trial. ResultsResults indicated that the CFQL-2 reliably measured eight independent QoL domains (Child, Family, Caregiver, Financial, Social Network, Partner Relationship, Coping, and QoL Change), with good-to-excellent reliability across score ranges, good test-retest reliability, and expected relationships with other measures. The change subscale was slightly, but not significantly, more sensitive to change than the total score. Externalizing behavior problems in the child had a strong negative association with several aspects of QoL. ConclusionThe CFQL-2 is a brief, reliable scale that effectively measures psychosocial aspects of QoL and is sensitive to changes in QoL in families of children with ASD or related neurodevelopmental disorders. Child externalizing behavior is strongly associated with reductions in multiple aspects of child and family psychosocial QoL.

Development of a leisure activity scale for contemporary older adults: Examination of its association with cognitive function

Objectives Leisure activities are important for older adults, not only to maintain their subjective well-being but also to prevent bedridden states. This study aimed to develop a leisure activity scale for contemporary older adults and examine its psychometric properties, based on a previous study from Iwasa et al. (2018). As people who actively engage in leisure activities are reportedly less likely to experience cognitive decline, the relationship between the scale score and cognitive function should be assessed while developing the scale. Specifically, the study was conducted to examine the reliability of the scale and its factor structure, confirm basic statistical characteristics, examine the scale's gender- and age-based differences, and the relationship between the scale score and cognitive function.Methods We surveyed Japanese older adults living in a community (aged 70-84 years; N=594) and used data from 306 participants (151 men and 155 women). We developed and administered a scale comprising 11 items that were measured using a 4-point Likert-type scale. Additionally, we used cognitive function scales including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), and the Word Fluency Test. Covariates in tests for independent associations between the leisure activity scale score and cognitive function were socioeconomic status, chronic disease, functional capacity, and living alone. We conducted two web surveys with two-week intervals for test-retest reliability purposes and used data from 192 of those participants (aged 70-79 years; 101 men and 91 women).Results A confirmatory factor analysis upheld the fact that the scale was comprised of one factor. The scale obtained high indicators of reliability: Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.81) and test-retest reliability (0.81). The mean, standard deviation, median, skewness, and kurtosis of the scale score were 14.44, 7.13, 15, -0.12, and -0.73, respectively. The analysis of variance for the scale score indicated significant age-based differences (i.e., the score for those who were 70-74 years old was higher than for those who were 80-84 years old) and no significant gender differences. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the scale score was significantly and independently correlated with MMSE (β=0.31), MIS (β=0.24), and word fluency (β=0.25).Conclusion This study confirmed the psychometric properties of the leisure activity scale, including factor structure, reliability, basic statistical characteristics, no gender differences, significant age-based differences, and relationship to cognitive function. Future studies should examine the longitudinal relationship between the leisure activity scale score and cognition among older adults in community settings.

Psychometric Properties of Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship-JapaneseVersion (STAR-J).

Background: A good therapeutic relationship between patient and psychiatrist is vital for effective mental health care. However, no instruments to assess this relationship are available in Japan. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of a Scale To Assess Therapeutic Relationship (STAR-J), which measures such relationships from the viewpoints of both the patient (STAR-J-P) and clinician (STAR-J-C). We examined the tool’s psychometric properties, including factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity, and test-retest reliability among psychiatric outpatients and psychiatrists. Methods: Study participants comprised 139 outpatients and 10 psychiatrists. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to investigate factor structure; to confirm cross-validity, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using a different sample constituting 195 participants in an assertive community treatment program and their 91 case managers. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. For STAR-J-P only, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was computed for 17 patients to determine test-retest reliability. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated to examine convergent validity with service satisfaction, empowerment, and medication adherence. Results: We identified a two-factor structure for STAR-J-P and a one-factor structure for STAR-J-C. Cronbach’s alphas for the two STAR-J-P factors were 0.897 and 0.645, and that for the STAR-J-C factor was 0.949. The ICCs for STAR-J-P factors 1 and 2 were 0.765 and 0.630, respectively. STAR-J-P and STAR-J-C were not significantly correlated. STAR-J-P factors 1 and 2 showed significant correlations with service satisfaction (factor 1: ρ = 0.648, p < 0.001; factor 2: ρ = 0.238, p = 0.005) and medication adherence (factor 1: ρ = 0.508, p < 0.001; factor 2: ρ = 0.347, p < 0.001), but only factor 1 showed a significant relationship with empowerment (ρ = 0.283, p = 0.001). STAR-J-C was significantly correlated only with empowerment (ρ = 0.207, p = 0.017). Conclusions: STAR-J appears to be a useful instrument for assessing therapeutic relationships in the Japanese psychiatric outpatient setting. Further studies should test its validity and applicability in different mental health service settings.

Psychometric properties of a Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in a military sample

BackgroundPerceived stress reflects a person’s feeling of how much stress the individual is under at a given time. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a popular instrument measuring the extent to which individuals perceive situations in their life as excessive relative to the ability to cope. Based on a literature review, however, several issues related to the scale remain: (a) the dimensionality is not established, (b) little information about the individual items exists, and (c) much research is based on university student samples. To address these, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale (KPSS) using a military sample.MethodsThis study was conducted in South Korea with 373 military personnel, aged 19–30 years. Both classical test theory (CTT) and the Rasch rating scale model were used to examine the psychometric properties of the KPSS, including factor structure, concurrent validity, reliability, and item analyses.ResultsInternal consistency reliability for the overall and negative/positive perception subscales was.85, .85 and .86, respectively. Based on Rasch reliability, person and item reliability were .82 and .98, respectively. Person and item separation were 2.13 and 7.19, respectively. Concurrent validity was established, with significantly positive association with the measures of depression and negative association with the measure of life satisfaction. Findings from the CFA suggested that a bifactor model with two group factors was the best fit to the observed data. The RSM showed that all but one item had acceptable infit and outfit statistics, and item difficulty ranged from −.73 to 1.22. Besides, the RSM showed positive and moderate inter-item correlations ranging from .42 to .75.ConclusionsThe results provided evidence that a 10-item Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale was a reliable and valid scale to measure perceived stress in military samples.