Internal Consistency Reliability Research Articles

The Development and Validation of the Emotionally Focused Therapy Skills Rubric

This article outlines the initial psychometric evidence for the emotionally focused therapy skills rubric (EFTSR). The EFTSR is designed to assess clinician's emotionally focused therapy (EFT) skill proficiency, identify how EFT skills are used within the basic movements of EFT, and evaluate a clinician's ability to use the EFT attachment injury resolution model . The EFTSR content validity was confirmed with two overall content validity indexes of .86 and .87. There was substantial item-level internal consistency reliability, with α scores ranging from .70 to .99 for both videos. Item-total correlations were higher than .20 for most items demonstrating substantial interrater reliability. Thus, results indicate initial support for using the EFTSR as theoretically based instrument designed to assess counselors’ ability to execute the skills of the EFT model.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale.

This study aimed to develop the Japanese version of the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale (J-PWGAS) as a measurement of body image regarding body weight and shape during pregnancy. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a perinatal medical center in Osaka, Japan, between March and November 2020. We recruited pregnant women in their second or third trimester, who were 20 years old or older and without pregnancy complications. This study evaluated the criterion validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Of the participants, 218 and 102 women participated in the validation and test-retest reliability studies, respectively. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a 17-item, five-factor structure. The J-PWGAS indicated acceptable criterion validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. The J-PWGAS can measure attitudes toward gestational weight gain in Japanese pregnant women and would be useful in examining the association of body image with weight gain and psychological status during pregnancy.

Psychometric properties of the Decisional Conflict Scale in a sample of perinatal women with depressive symptoms: A study in Portugal and Norway

ObjectiveTo assess the psychometric properties, i.e., reliability and construct validity of the 16-item Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and sub-scales in women with perinatal depressive symptoms in Norway and Portugal. MethodsWe included 415 women in Portugal and 163 in Norway (≥18 years) who were pregnant or had given birth in the last 12 months and presenting with active depressive symptoms. Women replied to the original DCS items. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis, estimated internal consistency reliability, and examined factorial invariance across country, perinatal status, and treatment uptake. ResultsThe DCS factor model had good fit to the data, with all items loading significantly on their respective factor (.585 to .958). There was configural invariance of the DCS across countries, treatment, and perinatal status. The internal consistency of the total DCS (Cronbach’s alpha) was .958, and for the subscales it ranged from .798 to .947. ConclusionsThe DCS is a valid and reliable measure of the decisional conflict in women with perinatal depressive symptoms in Portugal and Norway. Practice ImplicationsMeasuring the extent of decisional conflict regarding treatment and the effect of multiple interventions towards its reduction, is critical to facilitate the decision-making process of women with perinatal mental illness.

Assessment of Children’s Skill in Noticing Unfamiliar Words within Informational Context

ABSTRACT Reading and language standards, such as the Common State Standards for English Language Arts, indicate that primary-grade students should be able to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words from grade-level context. However, to be able to attempt determining the meaning of an unfamiliar word, the word must first be noticed. There is a lack of research on young children developing skill in noticing unfamiliar words, which may be an important skill for their vocabulary development and comprehension. In the present study, theories of word learning, earlier experimenter-created assessments with older learners, and research with multilingual learners guided the development of such an assessment, the Noticing Unfamiliar Words Assessment (NUWA). Instrument development methods, including expert review and piloting, were performed prior to administering the NUWA to a sample of 55 second graders. Results of the exploratory factor analysis supported the hypothesized unidimensional factor structure and indicated that the assessment had an adequate fit and internal consistency reliability. Findings suggest that the NUWA may be helpful in better understanding the developmental nature of skill in noticing unfamiliar words from context while listening and how it contributes to children’s vocabulary knowledge and other literacy skills.

Pedestrians’ Urban Space Preference Scale: A Study on Reliability and Validity

ABSTRACT This study develops a valid and reliable scale for the spatial preferences of pedestrians in public spaces. The study was conducted in 2023 and includes the development of a model based on survey results. With the help of random sampling method, the research was carried out with 401 random participants who were currently walking in the urban space. The scale development process started with an initial pool of 34 items determined from the literature on the subject. The data obtained from the applied scale were subjected to total item correlation, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and reliability analyses. According to the results of the analyses, it was found that the scale consisted of 19 items and 5 factors, the variance rate explaining the whole scale was 62.8%, and the fit index values were acceptable. Cronbach alpha internal consistency reliability coefficient was calculated as 0.813.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the psychological performance inventory-alternative (PPI-A) for the Indonesian context

In Indonesia, studies on the theme of sports psychology, especially mental toughness, are experiencing an increasing trend. However, there are problems with the measuring instruments used. Therefore, this research aims to adapt and test the psychometric properties of the PPI-A in the Indonesian context. There were 331 young athletes (M = 218, F = 113) with a mean age of 17.9 years and a standard deviation of 2.09. Apart from the psychological performance inventory-alternative (PPI-A), the mental toughness index (MTI) was also used to collect data in this study. The data obtained were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the three models (single-factor model, four-factor model, and second-order model) proposed. The research results show that the second-order model is the best compared to the unidimensional model and four-factor model, as evidenced by the chi-square value = 47.934; df = 32; p = .002; CFI = .961; GFI = .969; TLI = .938; SRMR = .038; RMSEA = .057. Of the fourteen items in the PPI-A, nine items had very good loading factor (λ = .563 to .759; p < 0.001). The internal consistency reliability of the PPI-Aid is moderate (α = .74 to .77) while the reliability with convergent validity is in the small to moderate category (r = .16 to .35; p ≤ .01). Even though the reliability value is not high, it can be stated that PPI-Aid is a valid and reliable measuring tool in measuring aspects of mental toughness. Keywords: mental toughness, psychometric, validation, PPI-A, athlete.

Development of Measurement Instruments for Teachers’ Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits and Self-Directed Learning

Lifelong learning is a crucial process that contributes to the continuous professional advancement opportunities for teachers. To promote teachers as lifelong learners, it is essential to leverage comprehensive insights into key mobilizing factors for lifelong learning, including a Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits, and Self-Directed Learning. This research aims to 1) develop measurement instruments for teachers’ Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits, and Self-Directed Learning, and to 2) examine the quality of the measurement instruments, including the establishment of norms for all three variables. The research sample consisted of 943 elementary school teachers, selected using stratified random sampling. The measurement instrument consisted of a questionnaire containing 35 items each utilizing a 5-point rating scale. The research findings show that item content validity ratio (CVR) values for each of the instrument subscales ranged between .71 and 1.00, while the content validity index (S-CVI) value for the entire scale was .97. The internal consistency reliability values for the individual variable subscales ranged from .925 to .963, while the construct validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as measured by the Mplus program showed that the measurement model fit the empirical data at the .05 significance level. This study also established percentile norms for the developed instruments.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Translation and Validation of Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in Hindi Language in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain.

Translation and Psychometric Testing. The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) into Hindi (PSEQ-H), the local language of India, and assess its psychometric properties. The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) is commonly used outcome measure in patients with pain and related psychosocial aspect too. The PSEQ invites participants to consider their pain while assessing their self-efficacy views. Because about half of India's population understands Hindi, there is a need to translate the PSEQ into Hindi for patient convenience and better comprehension, as well as for research purposes. The PSEQ has been translated and culturally adapted into Hindi. 120 patients with chronic neck pain were recruited.The PSEQ-H's content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness were all assessed. To determine test-retest reliability, the ICC was calculated. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine internal consistency. Criterion validity was assessed using the NDI, NRS, and Anxiety and Depression measures. The area under the curve and the change cut-point were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The PSEQ-H exhibited strong test-retest reliability (ICC=0.90) and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.88). Factor analysis confirmed a one-factor structure for the PSEQ-H. Furthermore, the PSEQ-H demonstrated a moderate correlation with the NDI, NPRS, anxiety, and depression scales. A change detection threshold of 8.3 was established. The Hindi version of the PSEQ is a reliable and valid measure for use in research and clinical purpose in the Indian population with chronic neck pain.

Validation and optimal cut-off score of the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5) as a screening tool for depression among patients with schizophrenia

BackgroundThe utility of the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5) as rapid screening tool for depression has not yet been researched in the context of schizophrenia. The goals of this study were twofold: (1) to test the psychometric properties of the WHO-5 in a sample of Arabic-speaking patients with schizophrenia from Lebanon, with particular emphasis on validating the WHO-5 as a screening tool for wellbeing and depression in patients with schizophrenia; and (2) to determine the optimal cut-off point to identify schizophrenia patients with depression.MethodsChronic, remitted patients with schizophrenia took part in this cross-sectional study between August and October 2023 (n = 117; mean age of 57.86 ± 10.88 years and 63.3% males). The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) was included as index of validity. For the validation of the WHO-5 scale, we performed a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using the original structure of the scale. To assess the discriminatory validity of the Arabic version of the WHO-5 as a screening tool for depression, we conducted a Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, taking the WHO-5 reversed score against the dichotomized CDSS score at a cut off value of 6.ResultsThe results of CFA supported the originally proposed unidimensional structure of the measure, with good internal consistency reliability (α = 0.80), concurrent validity, and cross-sex measurement invariance. The WHO-5 showed a sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.7 in the detection of depression with a cut-off point of 9.5. The validity of the WHO-5 as a screening tool for depression was supported by the excellent discrimination AUC value of 0.838. Based on this WHO-5 cut-off value, 42.6% of the patients were screened as having a depression.ConclusionThe study contributes to the field by showing that the WHO-5 is a concise and convenient self-report measure for quickly screening and monitoring depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. It is therefore highly recommended to apply this cut-off point for screening and follow-up assessments. The current findings will hopefully encourage clinicians and researchers working in Arab settings, who are often confronted with significant time and resource constraints, to start using the WHO-5 to aid their efforts in mitigating depression in this vulnerable population and fostering research in this under-researched area.

Validation of the Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire in pregnancy

The Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire (WREQ), designed for assessing distinct constructs of dietary restraint and disinhibition-related eating behaviors, has not been validated in pregnancy. This secondary data analysis aimed to evaluate the WREQ's psychometrics in a diverse sample of pregnant women from the eMoms randomized controlled trial (N = 1399), randomly split for exploratory (EFA, n = 691) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA, n = 708). Cronbach's alpha and corrected item-total correlation was used to examine internal consistency reliability. Sequential multiple regression analyses were used to assess criterion validity. EFA revealed three factors – dietary restraint, susceptibility to external cues, and emotional eating – accounting for 65.6 % of total variances. Parallel analysis confirmed a combination of two restraint subtypes (routine restraint and compensatory restraint). CFA showed that item 3 for assessing routine restraint had the lowest squared multiple correlation (0.22). The overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 demonstrated good internal consistency. Dietary restraint was negatively associated with the intake of energy (p = .03) and carbohydrates (p = .02), whereas susceptibility to external cues was positively associated with the intake of energy (p < .001), carbohydrates (p < .001), and total fat (p = .003). Additionally, emotional eating was positively associated with early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) after adjustment for covariates (p < .001). These findings confirmed the reliability of the WREQ, the construct validity for susceptibility to external cues and emotional eating, and demonstrated its criterion validity regarding nutritional intake in pregnant women.

Development of a new health-related quality of life measure for people with diabetes who experience hypoglycaemia: the Hypo-RESOLVE QoL.

Valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measures are vital for assessing disease impact, responsiveness to healthcare and the cost-effectiveness of interventions. A recent review has questioned the ability of existing measures to assess hypoglycaemia-related impacts on health-related quality of life for people with diabetes. This mixed-methods project was designed to produce a novel health-related quality of life patient-reported outcome measure in hypoglycaemia: the Hypo-RESOLVE QoL. Three studies were conducted with people with diabetes who experience hypoglycaemia. In Stage 1, a comprehensive health-related quality of life framework for hypoglycaemia was elicited from semi-structured interviews (N=31). In Stage 2, the content validity and acceptability of draft measure content were tested via three waves of cognitive debriefing interviews (N=70 people with diabetes; N=14 clinicians). In Stage 3, revised measure content was administered alongside existing generic and diabetes-related measures in a large cross-sectional observational survey to assess psychometric performance (N=1246). The final measure was developed using multiple evidence sources, incorporating stakeholder engagement. A novel conceptual model of hypoglycaemia-related health-related quality of life was generated, featuring 19 themes, organised by physical, social and psychological aspects. From a draft version of 76 items, a final 14-item measure was produced with satisfactory structural (χ2=472.27, df=74, p<0.001; comparative fit index =0.943; root mean square error of approximation =0.069) and convergent validity with related constructs (r=0.46-0.59), internal consistency (α=0.91) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.87). The Hypo-RESOLVE QoL is a rigorously developed patient-reported outcome measure assessing the health-related quality of life impacts of hypoglycaemia. The Hypo-RESOLVE QoL has demonstrable validity and reliability and has value for use in clinical decision-making and as a clinical trial endpoint. All data generated or analysed during this study are included in the published article and its online supplementary files ( https://doi.org/10.15131/shef. 23295284.v2 ).

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) in Chile

Objective To examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the 34-item Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation—Outcome Measure questionnaire (CORE-OM). Method Psychometric exploration was conducted in two samples: non-clinical (n = 706) and clinical (n = 420) participants. The non-clinical sample comprised a subgroup of community members (n = 308) and students (n = 398). The clinical sample consisted of self-reported patients (n = 209) and outpatients (n = 211). The analysis included both internal and test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and principal component analysis. A reliable change index and clinical cut-off scores were established for assessing clinically significant change. Results The Spanish CORE-OM demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, along with satisfactory convergent validity against the 45-item Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2). There were strong differentiations between the clinical and non-clinical samples and the four sample subsets. The outpatient group reported the highest scores, while the community group exhibited the lowest scores. There were no marked gender effects. All observed patterns aligned closely with the established Spanish referential data. Conclusion Our findings provide support for the utilization of the Spanish CORE-OM as a measure for tracking psychotherapeutic progress in the context of Chile.

A multimodal approach to automated hierarchical assessment of bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

As a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), bulbar involvement leads to progressive declines of speech and swallowing functions, significantly impacting social, emotional, and physical health, and quality of life. Standard clinical tools for bulbar assessment focus primarily on clinical symptoms and functional outcomes. However, ALS is known to have a long, clinically silent prodromal stage characterized by complex subclinical changes at various levels of the bulbar motor system. These changes accumulate over time and eventually culminate in clinical symptoms and functional declines. Detection of these subclinical changes is critical, both for mechanistic understanding of bulbar neuromuscular pathology and for optimal clinical management of bulbar dysfunction in ALS. To this end, we developed a novel multimodal measurement tool based on two clinically readily available, noninvasive instruments-facial surface electromyography (sEMG) and acoustic techniques-to hierarchically assess seven constructs of bulbar/speech motor control at the neuromuscular and acoustic levels. These constructs, including prosody, pause, functional connectivity, amplitude, rhythm, complexity, and regularity, are both mechanically and clinically relevant to bulbar involvement. Using a custom-developed, fully automated data analytic algorithm, a variety of features were extracted from the sEMG and acoustic recordings of a speech task performed by 13 individuals with ALS and 10 neurologically healthy controls. These features were then factorized into 10 composite outcome measures using confirmatory factor analysis. Statistical and machine learning techniques were applied to these composite outcome measures to evaluate their reliability (internal consistency), validity (concurrent and construct), and efficacy for early detection and progress monitoring of bulbar involvement in ALS. The composite outcome measures were demonstrated to (1) be internally consistent and structurally valid in measuring the targeted constructs; (2) hold concurrent validity with the existing clinical and functional criteria for bulbar assessment; and (3) outperform the outcome measures obtained from each constituent modality in differentiating individuals with ALS from healthy controls. Moreover, the composite outcome measures combined demonstrated high efficacy for detecting subclinical changes in the targeted constructs, both during the prodromal stage and during the transition from prodromal to symptomatic stages. The findings provided compelling initial evidence for the utility of the multimodal measurement tool for improving early detection and progress monitoring of bulbar involvement in ALS, which have important implications in facilitating timely access to and delivery of optimal clinical care of bulbar dysfunction.

Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory.

The Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) is a measurement tool for assessing an individual's willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations. Despite its widespread use in various contexts, no studies have validated the use of this instrument in China. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of an existing Chinese translation of the SOI-R. A total of 2,209 participants were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: exploratory factor analysis was conducted on one group and confirmatory factor analysis on the other, with 161 participants from the total sample recruited to assess the test-retest reliability. Criterion validity was measured by testing the correlations between sociosexuality and sexual desire, mate value, sexual attitudes, and personality traits. The results confirmed a three-factor structure (sociosexual behaviors, attitudes, and desire) for the SOI-R. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated good reliability (internal consistency and test-retest stability) and validity (criterion validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity) of the SOI-R, supporting its suitability as an assessment tool for sociosexual orientation in China.

The response readiness tool: An instrument to measure knowledge, skills, and attitude after taking a stop the Bleed® course.

Stop the Bleed® is an emergency response course that offers a certificate of completion but no ending assessment. The purpose of this educational study was to develop and test the Response Readiness Tool (RRT) that measures learning of participants after taking Stop the Bleed®. The study used a pre-/post-test design to measure knowledge and attitudes, and a post-test only for skills. Participants were recruited from existing Stop the Bleed® courses. Knowledge was measured with a 10-item questionnaire, attitude was measured with five Likert-style questions, and skills were measured by observing simulated tourniquet placement. Ninety-five participants were recruited over two semesters. There was a significant difference in the knowledge and attitude scores indicating participants' improvement in learning and attitude toward responding. Internal consistency reliability of scores showed moderate reliability with Cronbach's Alpha of 0.73 and McDonald's Omega of 0.75. A positive correlation was found between expected proficiency and pre-test indicating the tool had construct validity. RRT provides Stop the Bleed® instructors with an instrument to measure knowledge, skills, and attitude of participants after taking Stop the Bleed®. Statistics show moderate reliability and validity; however, larger samples are needed for full psychometric testing. This publication presents the revised tool after the completion of this study.

New media audience and sexuality issues in big brother naija.

The new media effectively plays the role of speedily conveying media content to various online communities, and this internet technology also allows for the storage and retrieval of content. The organizers of Big Brother Naija (BBN) appear to have leveraged this facility to interact with the audience of the reality show in the most profound manner in the Nigerian media ecosystem. Adopting John Locke's Empiricist Reflection Theory (ERT), the article uses quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine if coders (the new media audience) perceived the promotion of nudity, illicit sex, inordinate kisses, and vulgarity in the 2018 edition of the Big Brother Naija (BBN), codenamed "Double Wahala." A checklist of 72 internal consistency reliability was used to obtain the quantitative data while the data were analyzed using simple percentages and a pie chart. This was complemented by qualitative research modalities of historical-analytic and document observation methods. The study found that the participants and organizers have, for economic reasons, thrown caution on morality and values to the wind with the outcome of actual sexual intercourse among the participants amounting to 52% among other studied variables. The conclusion reached is that the organizers of the program should redesign it to promote wholesome entertainment, education, and enlightenment of the audience, especially the youth in Nigeria.

Reliability and validity analysis of Turkish version of the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network Symptom Index-10 questionnaire.

To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network Symptom Index-10 (LURN SI-10). In this, single-centre study, patients between 18 and 65 years old, who were suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) without any known urinary tract disease and on no medication, were enrolled. The control group consisted of participants, who were admitted to our clinic suffering from any complaint except LUTS and met all of the other inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants' demographics such as age, sex, and level of education were recorded. The Turkish version of the LURN SI-10, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8) were administered to all participants. Construct validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity was evaluated with correlations to similar measures. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was used to establish the scale's internal consistency reliability. A total of 164 participants were included in the final analysis. Of those, 57% were male. The individuals were identified as being in the "patient group" (n = 86) and a "control group" (n = 78). The mean age was 48.24 ± 14.30 years. The median total LURN SI-10 scores of patient group and control group were 12.0 (9-18.25) and 4.0 (2.75-6), respectively. The LURN SI-10 questionnaire showed a high correlation with the IPSS and the OAB-V8 questionnaires (r: 0.761; p: 0.001; r: 0.737; p: 0.001, respectively) in concurrent validity analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the LURN SI-10 was 0.850. This promising measurement tool can be used to evaluate LUTS in Turkish women and men. Further studies should be conducted to assess the clinical usefulness of this questionnaire.

Translation, adaptation, and validation of a Chinese version of the Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level effects (H-SCALE) for patients with hypertension.

Lifestyle modification is an essential component of prevention and management of hypertension. Existing instruments in Taiwan focus on assessing lifestyle modifications by evaluating medication adherence or confidence in controlling blood pressure. However, other self-care activities, such as diet, physical activity, weight management, smoking, and alcohol consumption are also important. The Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (H-SCALE) is one such instrument, but there are no similar tools available in Taiwan. This study aimed to translate the H-SCALE into Chinese and test its validity, and reliability in a sample of adults with hypertension. The English version of the 31-item H-SCALE was translated into Chinese using the forward-backward method. The content validity index (CVI) of the translated scale was determined by five experts in hypertension. Item analysis was conducted with a pilot sample of 20 patients with hypertension. Cronbach's α was used to establish the internal consistency reliability for the Chinese version of the H-SCALE (H-SCALE-C). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) explored the structure of the H-SCALE-C. Additionally, construct validity was examined with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Patients with hypertension were recruited by convenience sampling from a cardiovascular outpatient clinic of a medical center in northern Taiwan. A total of 318 patients met the inclusion criteria and participated in factor analysis in the study. Pilot testing of the scale items indicated most patients could not accurately estimate the number of days of alcohol consumption for the previous week. Therefore, three alcohol-related items were removed. The adaptation resulted in a 28-item H-SCALE-C. EFA revealed a 4-factor solution with 13 items that explained 63.93% of the total variance. CFA indicated a good fit for a 4-factor model and construct validity was acceptable. Internal consistency reliability was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha for the four subscales ranged from 0.65 to 0.94). Convergent validity was acceptable, and discriminant validity was significant. The H-SCALE-C is a valid, reliable tool for promptly assessing life-style activities for patients with hypertension in Taiwan. The instrument is suitable for assisting healthcare providers in evaluating self-care activities, which could be used to facilitate lifestyle modifications for patients with hypertension.

Evaluating Within-Network and Between-Network Construct Validity of the Hindi Version of the Grit-Short Scale Among Indian Adolescents

The Grit-short scale measures consistency and perseverance for long-term goals. In the present study, we translated and adapted the Grit-short scale into Hindi (Grit-SH) and examined its within-network and between-network construct validity among Indian adolescents. The participants were 534 senior secondary school students aged 14 – 18 years recruited from five schools across two samples. Grit-SH, along with the brief inventory of thriving and student satisfaction scale, was administered in sample 1 ( N 1 = 310), whereas in sample 2 ( N 2 = 224), the English version of the Grit-short scale was used. Regarding within-network construct validity, the two-dimensional structure of Grit-SH demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data, partially strict invariance against its English version, and good internal consistency reliability. In terms of between-network construct validity, grit demonstrated a significantly positive correlation with student satisfaction and well-being. Overall, findings indicated that the Grit-SH is a valid and reliable measure of grit that researchers and practitioners can use to assess grit among Indian adolescents.

Exploring the psychometric properties of the premonitory urge for tics scale (PUTS) and its association with psychiatric symptoms in Chinese children with tic disorders

BackgroundThe Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) is a common self-report measure of premonitory urges for patients with tic disorders. This study aims to evaluate the Chinese version of the PUTS (PUTS-C) and to explore its association with psychiatric symptoms in Chinese children diagnosed with tic disorders.MethodsThe psychometric evaluation involved 204 outpatients with tic disorders, aged 7–16 years, who were divided into two age groups: (7–10 years, n = 103; 11–16 years, n = 95).ResultsThe PUTS-C demonstrated good internal consistency (McDonald’sω = 0.84) and two-week test-retest reliability (0.76). We observed a statistically significant correlation between the total PUTS-C score and various Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) subscales and total tic severity scores. The PUTS-C score also showed significant correlations with the Children Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), Screening Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Notably, premonitory urges independently predicted tic severity, beyond the influence of comorbid symptoms. A two-factor structure of the PUTS-C was identified in the total sample through factor analysis.ConclusionsThe PUTS-C possesses acceptable validity and good reliability. It appears that premonitory urges in Chinese patients with tic disorders are associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety, and depression, but can independently predict tic severity. Specific PUTS-C factors possibly related to motor and vocal tics. Future research should continue to investigate age-related differences and the association with tics and other sensory symptoms.