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Development and validation of the Behavioral Determinants of Deprescribing Questionnaire (BDDQ)

Abstract Background Deprescribing is a strategy to optimize medication use. While health behaviour can successfully be predicted by health behavior theories, the literature on deprescribing relies almost exclusively on questionnaires that measure attitudes only, such as the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire and the Patients Attitudes Towards Deprescribing, resulting in poor predictive validity. The aim of this study was to develop a new tool to measure the psychological determinants of deprescribing among people aged over 60, based on concepts derived from health behaviour theories. Methods A draft self-report questionnaire was developed consisting of 64 questions measuring 11 dimensions representing determinants of deprescribing. As well as previous deprescribing experience, current deprescribing behaviour and willingness to deprescribe. Face validity was assessed by asking 10 health professionals and 13 of older people to complete the questionnaire and comment in a small group discussion, resulting in the removal of 18 items. Construct validity was assessed on a sample of 103 participants aged over 60, using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Internal consistency was assessed via Cronbach’s alpha. Results The EFA could confirm 11 dimensions explaining 70,5% of the total variance, but revealed poor loadings for several items and inadequate alphas (<.50) for two factors. Removal of items and these two dimensions resulted in 26 items measuring 9 dimensions, all showing acceptable internal consistencies (between .52 and .77): perceived risk; relatives’ involvement; deprescribing concerns; attitudes; medication beliefs; healthcare support; perceived difficulties; motivation to comply; communication accessibility. Conclusions This study produced a conceptually based and psychometrically validated questionnaire to assess behavioural determinants of deprescribing. It provides for a more comprehensive investigation of deprescribing intentions and behaviour of older adults. Key messages • A conceptually sound, psychometrically validated questionnaire (BDDQ) was developed. • BDDQ can be used for a more comprehensive study of de-prescribing in older people.

Delineating Care Recipient Burden Constructs: Development and Validation of the CARE-2B Scale for Care Recipient Self-Perceived Burden and Proxy Assessment of Caregiver Burden.

Care Recipient Self-Perceived Burden (CR-SPB) to Caregivers is an important but overlooked aspect within the caregiver-care recipient relationship. This study aimed to 1) develop and validate the CARE-2B (Care Recipient's Two Burden) Scale, assessing both CR-SPB and their proxy assessment of caregiver burden (Proxy-CB); 2) examine whether the CR-SPB and Proxy-CB differ from caregiver burden's own assessment and other health and social care constructs. Data were collected from 504 caregiver-care recipient dyads in the US using an online panel between August 2022 and February 2023. Care recipients completed the CARE-2B Scale, which includes two subscales: their self-perceived burden (CR-SPB) and their proxy assessment of caregiver burden (Proxy-CB). Care recipients also completed measures related to health, well-being: SPB-scale, EQ-5D-5L, and EQ-HWB. Caregivers completed CarerQoL and ASCOT-Carer. Psychometric analysis included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory (IRT), and construct validity. CR-SPB correlated strongly with the SPB-Scale (r=0.73), while Proxy-CB correlated more strongly with caregiver-reported burden (r=0.61). Both CR-SPB and Proxy-CB items demonstrated good discrimination and information coverage in IRT analysis. EFA further supported the distinctiveness of CR-SPB and Proxy-CB, with CR-SPB items loading on a separate factor from caregiver burden and health constructs, while Proxy-CB aligned with caregiver-reported burden. The CARE-2B Scale innovatively assesses both CR-SPB and Proxy-CB from the care recipient's perspective, providing new insights into the caregiving relationship. This dual-perspective measure has implications for enhancing care strategies for individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities and their caregivers.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale in LGBTQIA+ Parents.

In LGBTQIA+ adults, 36% are parents, but there are a limited number of parenting scales that have undergone psychometric evaluation in LGBTQIA+ parents. This study assessed the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale (MAPS) in LGBTQIA+ parents, addressing a gap in parenting scales considering both positive and negative aspects for this group. Our study includes two racially and ethnically diverse national samples of parents (n = 2,299, mean age = 37.05 years, 32.84% LGBTQIA+). We explored measurement invariance between LGBTQIA+ and non-LGBTQIA+ parents. The analysis revealed a modest fit for configural and metric invariance, indicating the MAPS structure and item loadings were consistent across groups, although scalar invariance was only partially supported. Subscales showed good internal consistency for both parent groups. Importantly, following false discovery rate corrections, interactions between LGBTQIA+ status and specific MAPS subscales (supportiveness, physical control) were significantly, but differentially, related to various child psychopathology dimensions, suggesting parenting impacts may differ for LGBTQIA+ families. These findings underscore the importance of including LGBTQIA+ perspectives in parenting research to develop tailored interventions that address their unique strengths and challenges. Acknowledging and supporting the diverse experiences of LGBTQIA+ parents can enhance targeted resources and interventions, contributing to better outcomes for all families.

The psychometric properties of Chinese version of the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome-quality of life scale (GTS-QOL) for children and adolescents

BackgroundGilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a persistent neurological disorder that profoundly affects the quality of life for afflicted individuals, however, tailored health-related quality of life (QOL) measures for Chinese pediatric GTS patients are lacking. This pioneering study aims to develop a QOL scale for Chinese children with GTS.MethodsA cohort of 1,121 children (aged 6–16 years) diagnosed with GTS participated in scale development. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to assess the factor structure of the GTS-QOL-Chinese, examining goodness-of-fit indices, factor loadings of individual items, and covariances between factors. Validity was determined through interscale correlations and comparisons with external measures to establish convergent and discriminant validity.ResultsFollowing reliability and validity analyses, a Chinese version of the 24-item GTS-specific quality of life scale was conclusively established, encompassing five subscales (psychological, compulsive, cognitive, physical, social). The scale demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.93, and validity was substantiated through interscale correlations ranging from 0.46 to 0.68. EFA identified five factors, explaining 61.26% of the total variation. CFA further confirmed the scale’s robustness, with all goodness-of-fit indicators meeting acceptable criteria (AGFI = 0.86, PCFI = 0.78, GFI = 0.89, CFI = 0.89, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.06).ConclusionsThe Chinese version of the GTS-QOL scale has exhibits robust reliability and validity and is valuable for assessing the quality of life of Chinese children and adolescents with GTS. This scale may assist in tailoring interventions and improving patient care.

Development and Validation of a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure of the Impact of Chronic Hand Eczema on Health-Related Quality of Life: the Hand Eczema Impact Scale (HEIS).

Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) is an inflammatory skin disease that causes significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The Hand Eczema Impact Scale (HEIS) is a new patient-reported outcome(PRO) measure designed to assess the impact of CHE on key domains of HRQoL. This study aimed to develop and evaluate content and psychometric validity of the HEIS. The HEIS was initially developed on the basis of a literature review and concept elicitation interviews. Qualitative cognitive debriefing interviews (n = 20) were conducted with patients with CHE to assess relevance and understanding of items, response options, and recall period. Psychometric properties (item performance, dimensionality, reliability, validity, responsiveness, and estimation of meaningful change thresholds) were then assessed using data (n = 258) from a phase 2b trial (NCT03683719). Cognitive debriefing confirmed all items were understood and relevant to patients. Inter-item correlations (all > 0.50) and confirmatory factor analysis (factor loadings ≥ 0.80) supported unidimensionality of the HEIS score, and mostly provided support for the HEIS Proximal Daily Activity Limitations (PDAL) score, with only one item loading below the prespecified threshold. Item properties and previous qualitative work supported retaining this item in the total score but removed from the HEIS PDAL domain. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.89) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient ≥ 0.79) results were very strong. Strong correlations with concurrent measures (0.66-0.87) and significant differences between severity groups (p < 0.001) supported construct validity. Large effect sizes for mean change scores in participants that improved and significant differences between groups indicated ability to detect change. Anchor-based analyses supported within-individual responder definitions of ≥ 1.3 points for improvements in both HEIS score and HEIS PDAL score (covering three items) and of ≥ 1.5 points for HEIS embarrassment with the appearance of hands (Emb) score (covering two items). The 9-item HEIS is the first CHE-specific PROmeasure developed and validated according to regulatory guidance for assessment of the impact of CHE on key domains of HRQoL. This article provides evidence of strong content and psychometric validity and shows improvements of ≥ 1.3 points in HEIS score and HEIS PDAL score, and improvements of ≥ 1.5 points in HEIS Emb score represent clinically meaningful, important changes. NCT03683719.

Psychometric properties of the variants of the Chinese UCLA Loneliness Scales and their associations with mental health in adolescents

Loneliness is a pervasive and distressing emotional experience that affects individuals of all ages and can have significant consequences for both physical and mental health. The UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) is widely used to assess the subjective feelings of loneliness, but concerns have been raised about its structure and applicability in diverse cultural contexts. This study analysed the reliability and validity of the five Chinese versions of the UCLA-LS in a representative sample of 2,643 adolescents and young adults with Chinese as their first language in Hong Kong. The results showed high internal consistency across all versions and content validity for most items. Factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure for the longer versions and a unidimensional structure for the shorter versions. However, the fit statistics suggested that the models did not meet good fit criteria, indicating item loading or model specification requires further review. The scales demonstrated strong associations with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as psychosocial factors like hopelessness and aggression. Notably, the 8-item version’s total scores were associated with mental health and psychological attributes comparable to those of the 20-item version, suggesting its potential suitability as a screening tool in population settings. Future research is needed to improve the generalisability of these scales to other Chinese populations, particularly for items with lower content validity.

Validation of the English-language version of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi), and comparison with a measure of sleep inertia

ABSTRACT The Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi) assesses three components of circadian functioning: Morning Affect (time to fully awaken), Eveningness (orientation/preference for evening activity), and Distinctness (amplitude of diurnal variations in functioning). Following the original German version, translations of the MESSi (including Spanish, Turkish, and Chinese) have been validated, but validity evidence for the English-language version has been lacking. The current study tested the factor structure, internal consistency, and predicted correlations of the English-language MESSi. A sample of 600 adults from an online recruitment platform (aged 18–78, mean = 41.31, SD = 13.149) completed an online survey including the MESSi, reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), Sleep Inertia Questionnaire (SIQ), and measures of personality and depressive symptoms. Exploratory factor analysis exactly reproduced the three-component structure of Morning Affect (MA), Eveningness, and Distinctness, with all items loading strongly on their respective component. Confirmatory factor analysis of this structure showed acceptable fit. The three subscales showed good internal consistency and replicated previously reported correlations with depressive symptoms, sleep inertia, sleep quality, and personality. Further factor analysis combining the items of the MESSi, rMEQ, and SIQ replicated a previously found seven-factor structure: Cognitive, Emotional, and Physiological sleep inertia (SI), Responses to SI (including one MA item); Duration of SI (one SIQ item, 3/5 MA items); Morningness-Eveningness (MESSi Eveningness items, plus 3/5 rMEQ items); Distinctness (5/5 MESSi items). In conclusion, the English-language MESSi shows sound psychometric properties, but Morning Affect may be more suitably characterised as a measure of sleep inertia duration, rather than morningness preference.

Examining the psychometric properties of the CEFIS-AYA using item response theory.

The COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Scale, Adolescent and Young Adult Version (CEFIS-AYA; Schwartz, L. A., Lewis, A. M., Alderfer, M. A., Vega, G., Barakat, L. P., King-Dowling, S., Psihogios, A. M., Canter, K. S., Crosby, L., Arasteh, K., Enlow, P., Hildenbrand, A. K., Kassam-Adams, N., Pai, A., Phan, T. L., Price, J., Schultz, C. L., Sood, E., Wood, J., & Kazak, A. (2022). COVID-19 exposure and family impact scales for adolescents and young adults. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 47, 631-640. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsac036) was developed to assess the pandemic's effects on adolescents and young adults (AYA). Via principal component analysis, measure developers examined the structure and reliability of the CEFIS-AYA and identified seven exposure and five impact components. This study built upon prior work through use of item response theory (IRT) models to characterize the dimensionality of the CEFIS-AYA, determine the strength of relations between items and underlying trait(s), and examine associations between trait scores and pandemic-related distress. This was a secondary analysis of data collected between July 2020 and July 2021 from three studies of emerging adults (ages 18-29; N = 834). The CEFIS-AYA structure was multidimensional, with the strongest support for five traits. Trait 1 represented pandemic impact on social/emotional functioning and self-care. Trait 2 reflected other pandemic disruptions. Trait 3 represented pandemic disruptions to education and/or other milestones. Trait 4 represented pandemic impact on physical well-being. Trait 5 assessed pandemic disruptions to work/financial circumstances. Item loadings and parameters indicated variability in how consistently trait level was associated with item endorsement. Trait scores did not predict distress, except that increases in Trait 3 were associated with lower distress. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the CEFIS-AYA among emerging adults using a statistical framework better suited for modeling categorical data. The identified dimensional structure was relatively consistent with the initial psychometric evaluation of the CEFIS-AYA, albeit more parsimonious. However, replication is critical in light of sample demographic characteristics.

Analysis of factors affecting employee performance

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;A company's human resources are a significant asset for business growth. Performance of working employees determines how far a company advances. This study aims to examine the variables that affect employees' productivity at PT Z. This study uses a quantitative, SEM-PLS methodology. A questionnaire with a 1–5 rating scale was given to 56 randomly selected respondents, who provided the data. The software SmartPLS is then used to examine the data that has been gathered. The study's latent variables included employee performance, job happiness, work culture, and work experience. The findings demonstrated that the composite reliability and AVE values were both greater than 0.5 and 0.7, respectively. Everything created for the model, it can be said, has strong discriminant validity. Each item's loading factor value is more than 0.7, indicating that all the variables are legitimate. The job satisfaction variable in the hypothesis test had no impact on worker performance. Employee performance, meanwhile, is influenced by workplace culture and experience.&lt;/span&gt;

Healthcare professionals' perceptions of hypnotherapy in cancer care: Development and validation of a survey

Background and purposeHypnotherapy has shown promise in cancer care for alleviating pain, managing nausea, reducing anxiety and fatigue, and improving overall quality of life. Despite its potential benefits, there remains a significant gap between evidence and clinical practice. One way to bridge this gap is to assess healthcare professionals' perceptions and address them accordingly. While survey tools assessing perceptions in healthcare exist, they often are outdated, lack contemporary focus and specificity to complementary therapies like hypnotherapy, particularly in the context of cancer care. This study aimed to develop, psychometrically evaluate, and pilot a survey designed to assess Australian healthcare professionals' (psychologists, counselors, medical practitioners, and nurses) perceptions of hypnotherapy in cancer care. Materials and methodsA cross-sectional survey was developed to assess healthcare professionals' perceptions of hypnosis/hypnotherapy in cancer care. The survey, informed by a comprehensive literature review, consisted of three sections: (1) demographics, 2) interest, experience and knowledge of hypnosis, and (3) attitudes towards its integration in cancer care. Instrument validation involved an expert panel (n = 5) review for content validity and a pilot study with 89 healthcare professionals for reliability. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis. ResultsPsychometric analysis demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.850. Factor analysis revealed two distinct factors: perceived benefits of hypnotherapy in cancer care (explaining 49.23 % of variance) and concerns/misconceptions about hypnosis (explaining 19.50 % of variance). These factors showed strong item loadings (0.692–0.889 and 0.529-0.850, respectively) and a moderate correlation (r = 0.464). The survey tool proved feasible and applicable with a high completion rate among participants. The survey pilot results highlighted significant knowledge gaps and varying levels of acceptance of hypnotherapy, underscoring the necessity for targeted education and training initiatives. Despite these gaps, there was a notable interest in learning more about hypnotherapy's potential benefits in cancer care. However, limitations to sample diversity and generalizability should be noted, as the vast majority of respondents were female nurses. ConclusionA novel survey tool to evaluate healthcare professionals' perceptions of hypnotherapy in cancer care was developed and tested for its validity and reliability. Results of this study revealed significant knowledge gaps and varied acceptance levels by healthcare professionals to using hypnotherapy in cancer care. We identified respondents have a strong interest in hypnotherapy's potential benefits, highlighting the need for targeted education and suggesting a promising foundation for its future integration into holistic and patient-centered cancer care.

Psychometrics assessment of clinical reasoning competency scale in nurses of critical care units

BackgroundNurses play a crucial role in identifying patients’ needs and assessing their clinical conditions to provide adequate and timely interventions. However, evaluating the clinical reasoning competence of nurses requires valid, specific, and comprehensive tools. The present study aimed to translate and psychometrically assess the Persian version of the Clinical Reasoning Competence Scale (CRCS) for nurses in special care units in Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional, multi-axis methodological study involved 630 nurses from critical care departments in 11 Iranian hospitals. The original version of the Clinical Reasoning Competency Scale for Nurses (CRCSN) was translated into Persian using the forward and backward translation method. The psychometric properties of this scale were assessed using COSMIN criteria.ResultsEach item’s content validity ratio (CVR) ranges from 0.69 to 1, the Item content validity index (I-CVI) ranges from 0.82 to 1, while the S-w was 0.95. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the items load on three distinct dimensions—“plan setting,” “intervention strategy regulation,” and “self-instruction”—with loadings ranging from 0.621 to 0.912. These dimensions collectively explain 74.32% of the variance. Confirmatory validity was affirmed without necessitating the removal or reordering of items during the exploratory phase. The scale’s reliability was established with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.91 and a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.92. Factor analysis was also conducted.ConclusionThe Persian version of CRCSN has been found to be valid and reliable in critical care units. Therefore, nursing managers can confidently use this tool to evaluate the clinical reasoning competence of nurses. They can also implement appropriate strategies, such as educational interventions, to improve their clinical reasoning skills.

Relationship Between Happiness, Culture, Socio-Economic Status, And Religious Coping Among Muslim Women Students Residing In Sokoto State, Nigeria

The goal of happiness is to have a stress-free and functional society. Yet, stress from cultural and socio-economic factors may arise when Muslim women student’s issues are discussed within society practices; which has resulted in illiteracy in Nigeria due to low enrolment attendance and school completion rates. Despite this, the World Happiness Report (WHR, 2023) ranked Nigeria as 95th happiest country in the world, and the fifth happiest country in Africa. Nevertheless, not many researches on happiness among Muslim women students in Northern Nigeria have been reported. This study investigated the relationship between happiness, culture, socio-economic status (SES), and religious coping, among Muslim women students at the Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE), in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria. A total number of 269 Muslim women students were selected to participate in this study using purposive random sampling. Instruments namely Orientation to Happiness Scale (OHS), Cultural Questionnaire for Women, (CQW), Socio-Economic Status Scale (SESS), Islamic Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE) were used for data collection. The total Cronbach’s alpha Coefficiency was 0.937, which was found to be reliable. The results were analysed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model was evaluated using items loading of average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR). The findings of this study showed that the direct relationship of culture, socio-economic status and religious coping towards happiness were significant. As a conclusion, this study provides useful information for counsellors who can assist their clients in improving and maintaining their positive religious coping practices, as well as their ability to encounter positive feelings, engage in Islamic practices, have a meaningful life, and cope with stressors. Future research on happiness in other Northern states of Nigeria is recommended.

B - 7 Factor Structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Epilepsy

Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II) in persons with epilepsy (PWE) and assess its correspondence with validated BDI-II cognitive and somatic-affective factors associated with depression in other populations. Method Retrospective data from 69 PWE (ages 18–72) who completed the BDI-II at a National Association of Epilepsy Centers level 4 epilepsy center were analyzed. Patients with diagnoses of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders were excluded. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) using the psych package in R Studio was conducted, allowing factors to correlate with oblique factor rotation. The number of factors was determined using eigenvalues &amp;gt;1 and scree plots. Results Statistical support is strongest for a one-factor solution with eigenvalue 7.91; however, a two-factor solution (Factor two eigenvalue = 1.16) also met criteria. These factors accounted for 30% and 10% of the variance, respectively. Due to the low eigenvalue, few item loadings (3), and low variance explained by the second factor, item-level considerations were implemented to determine whether a two-factor solution added clinically relevant information. Conclusion Although a one-factor solution was best supported by the data, a second factor including sadness, feeling of punishment, and suicidal thoughts may be clinically relevant given elevated suicide risk and qualitative research reporting punishment feelings among PWE.

Pilot study of parental alienation items in the adverse childhood experiences scale

BackgroundAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Parental Alienation (PA)are forms of adverse events negatively affecting children globally. The current study was to identify a revised ACEs measure that includes a screening item for PA. MethodsA total of 231 undergraduate students, ages 18 to 37, were surveyed for this analysis. A factor analyses was performed to identify what PA item, out of four, would correlate most strongly with existing ACEs scale items. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed. An exploratory factory analyses was conducted to identify factor structure of scale items and a confirmatory factory analysis of extracted factors was used to assess model fit. ResultsOver half (60 %) of the sampled population reported at least one ACEs item. All four PA items were significantly correlated with converging constructs (r = 0.68, p < .01). Out of four PA items, one PA item significantly outperformed the other three items in relation to convergent validity and was used to create a new ACEs-PA scale item (r = 0.33, p < .01). A two factor solution was identified with the new PA item loading, accounting for 35 % of the variance, explaining more variance in both outcomes (R2 = 0.43 and R2 = 0.16) than the original ACEs scale when comparing the adjusted R2 values (R2 = 0.35 and R2 = 0.13).Limitations This study used participant self-reporting methods subjecting it to retrospective bias. ConclusionWithin the population, the new PA item factored significantly with existing ACEs, suggesting the capture of an additional adverse childhood experience.

Development and Validation of Ikhlaas Scale for Pakistani Muslim Adults.

Ikhlaas refers to the capacity of having sincere intentions in both acts of worship (ibadah) dedicated to God and our dealings with others, as we strive to seek God's pleasure. The present research was primarily conducted to develop a psychometrically sound measure of ikhlaas and establish its construct validity. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, it comprised two studies. Study 1 was conducted in three phases. In Phase 1, an initial set of 17 items for the Ikhlaas Scale (IS) was developed through the thematic analysis of Quranic verses, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Phase 2 was related to the translation and cross-language validation of scales. Phase 3 involved administering this item pool to a sample of Pakistani Muslim adults (N = 300) and conducting an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) that revealed a two-factor structure (item loading 0.45-0.89) for the 12-item IS, accounting for 43.65% of the variance. The first factor measured ikhlaas in worship (7 items), while the second factor measured ikhlaas in dealings with others (5 items). Ikhlaas had a significant positive correlation with taqwa and significant negative correlations with materialism, providing evidence for the convergent validity of the IS. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted on a sample of Muslim adults (N = 702) confirmed the 12-item, two-factor structure of the IS observed in the EFA. Ikhlas was positively related to religious commitment and religious emphasis. In the final measurement model, the average variance extracted (AVE) of all constructs (ikhlaas, religious emphasis, and religious commitment) was > 0.50, the values of maximum shared variance (MSV) were lower than those of AVE, and the diagonal values of the square root of the AVE were higher than the intercorrelations. The heterotrait-monotrait correlation ratio (HTMT) ranged from 0.51 to 0.61, which testified to the discriminant validity of IS. Overall, the IS is a robust measure of ikhlaas that needs to be further studied for developing its nomological network across global Muslim populations.

Self-concealment scale (SCS) in middle-aged people: psychometric features and cross-age equivalence test

BackgroundIndividuals’ concealment of negative information and privacy may lead to impaired social interactions and threatened health conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS) in the middle-aged Chinese population and to examine the equivalence of the SCS among different age groups.MethodsThe current research adopted the SCS, Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (RCBS), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Social Phobia Scale (SPS), UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) to survey 1124 middle-aged people. To explore the factor structure of the SCS, the study employed exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability of the SCS was measured based on Cronbach’s α coefficients, McDonald’s Omega coefficients, and split-half reliability. Correlation analysis was applied to examine the relationship between SCS and RCBS, SIAS, SPS, ULS-8, and K10. Moreover, this study recruited 1458 emerging adults and 1104 older adults to identify the cross-age invariance of the SCS.ResultsExploratory factor analysis of the middle aged adults’ data supported a single factor model. The factor loadings of SCS items ranged from 0.62 to 0.73, the commonality ranged from 0.39 to 0.53, and the single-factor model fitted well. The scale showed a Cronbach’s α coefficient value of 0.895, McDonald’s Omega coefficient of 0.893, and a split-half reliability coefficient value of 0.861. In addition, the SCS demonstrated invariance in emerging adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Further analysis showed that the scores of the SCS (F = 3.55, p = 0.029) among emerging adults (M = 26.43, SD = 7.96) were significantly higher than among middle-aged (M = 25.77, SD = 7.79), and older cohort (M = 25.69, SD = 7.91).ConclusionThe SCS revealed favorable psychometric characteristics among the middle-aged Chinese population. The degree of self-concealment among emerging adults was higher than that of middle-aged and older people.

Preliminary Validation of Hearing Device-Related Stigma Measures in Four United States Populations.

Although hearing devices such as cochlear implants and hearing aids often improve communication, many people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) choose not to use them. Hearing device-related stigma, or negative societal beliefs about people who use hearing devices, often drives this decision. Although much research has documented the negative effects of hearing device-related stigma, no widely accepted, validated measure to quantify such stigma across populations currently exists. In this article, we describe the preliminary validation of four distinct but related scales measuring hearing device-related stigma in different populations, including people who use hearing devices and those close to them. We preliminarily validated four measures for quantifying hearing device-related stigma in different populations that were previously developed and refined through a literature review, Delphi interviews, cognitive interviews, and a pretest. We preliminarily validated these measures through self-administered online surveys in a convenience sample in the United States. Among participants who use a hearing device and who either (a) self-identified as being d/DHH before they developed language (lifelong; n = 78) or (b) those who self-identified as having acquired a d/DHH identity after they developed language (acquired n = 71), we validated an anticipated hearing device-related stigma scale (d/DHHS-LE-HDA). We validated three scales that measure perceived hearing device-related stigma observed by parents of children who are d/DHH and who use a hearing device (n = 79) (d/DHHS-P-HDPO), care partners of adults who are d/DHH and use a hearing device (n = 108) (d/DHHS-CP-HDPO), and health care providers (n = 203) (d/DHHS-HCP-HDSH). Exploratory factor analysis assessed the reliability of each measure. Each of the four scales loaded onto one factor. Factor loadings for the eight-item scale measuring anticipated hearing device-related stigma among the two populations with lived experience ranged from 0.635 to 0.910, with an ordinal α of 0.93 in the lifelong d/DHH participants and 0.94 among the acquired d/DHH participants. The six-item scale of perceived stigma observed by parents had item loadings from 0.630 to 0.920 (α = 0.91). The nine-item scale of hearing device-related stigma observed by care partners had item loadings from 0.554 to 0.922 (α = 0.95). The eight-item scale of hearing device-related stigma reported by health care providers had item loadings from 0.647 to 0.941 (α = 0.89). Preliminary validation results show that the four stigma measures perform well in their respective populations. The anticipated stigma scale performed similarly well for both lifelong d/DHH and acquired d/DHH, which suggests that it could perform well in different contexts. Future research should further validate the scales described here as well as measure hearing device-related stigma in different populations-including people who live in different geographic regions and people using different kinds of hearing devices-and evaluate the success of interventions developed to reduce hearing device-related stigma.

Latent structure and measurement invariance of the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children across sex and age.

Measurement tools from which valid interpretations can be made are critical for assessing early emerging depressive symptoms, as depressive symptoms in childhood are associated with increased risk for early-onset depressive disorder, recurrence, suicidality, and other psychopathology. The Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS) is a widely used self-report scale assessing youth depressive symptoms. The relatively few studies investigating the DSRS' latent structure have yielded mixed results, and measurement invariance (MI) based on sex and age has not been examined. We examined the factor structure and MI of the DSRS across sex and age in a community sample of 6-9-year-olds (N = 352; Mage = 7.57 years, SD = .70). Consistent with the largest prior structural study of the DSRS, a two-factor structure, with factors reflecting elevated negative affect (NA) and low positive affect (PA), showed strong model fit. Although this structure was consistent across sex and age (i.e., configural invariance), loadings of DSRS items varied across sex and age (i.e., metric noninvariance). Allowing the loadings of items contributing to noninvariance to vary across groups improved model fit. Implications for the clinical and research utility of the DSRS and suggestions for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Harmonizing perspectives to understand attitudes: A mixed methods approach to crafting an assessment literacy attitude scale

Assessment literacy's vital role in faculty effectiveness within higher education lacks sufficient tools for measuring faculty attitudes on this matter. Employing a sequential mixed-methods approach, this study utilized the theory of planned behavior to develop the Assessment Literacy Attitude Scale (ALAS) and evaluate its psychometric properties within the U.S. higher education context. The qualitative phase involved a literature review of relevant studies and existing self-report measures, interviews with stakeholders, and panel reviews to shape initial item development. Following the establishment of a conceptual foundation and a comprehensive overview of the scale's construction, our study advanced to the quantitative stage that involves factor analytical and item response theory approaches using data from 260 faculty across three public universities in the U.S. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed initially to obtain preliminary insights into the scale's factorial structure and dimensionality. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was subsequently applied with separate data and the findings largely supported the conclusions from the EFA. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in 15 items loading across two factors in a good model fit range. Finally, we used nonparametric item response theory (IRT) techniques based on Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA) to evaluate individual items for evidence of effective psychometric properties to support the interpretation of ALAS scores, including monotonicity, scalability, and invariant item ordering. The newly-developed scale shows promise in assessing faculty attitudes toward enhancing their assessment literacy.

Psychometric evaluation of clinician- and caregiver-reported clinical severity assessments for individuals with CDKL5 deficiency disorder.

The CDKL5 Clinical Severity Assessment (CCSA) is a comprehensive, content-validated measurement tool capturing the diverse challenges of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency disorder (CDD), a genetically caused developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). The CCSA is divided into clinician-reported (CCSA-Clinician) and caregiver-reported (CCSA-Caregiver) assessments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of these measures through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and evaluate their validity and reliability. Participants were recruited from the International CDKL5 Clinical Research Network to take part in an in-clinic CCSA-Clinician evaluation (n = 148) and/or complete the CCSA-Caregiver questionnaire (n = 198). CFA was used to determine domains, and factor loadings and validity were assessed. For the CCSA-Clinician, inter-rater reliability was assessed by nine CDD experienced clinicians via 14 pre-recorded evaluations. Eight clinicians re-viewed and re-scored the videos after 4 weeks to evaluate intra-rater reliability. The CCSA-Caregiver was completed on a second occasion by 34 caregivers after 2-4 weeks to assess test-retest reliability. CFA resulted in three domains for the CCSA-Clinician (motor and movement, communication, vision) and four domains for the CCSA-Caregiver (seizures, behavior, alertness, feeding), with good item loadings across both measures. Structural statistics, internal consistency, discriminant validity, and reliability were satisfactory for both measures, and scores were consistent between known groups. This study provides strong evidence that the CCSA measures are suitable to assess the clinical severity of individuals with CDD, supporting their use in clinical trials. Further evaluation of responsiveness to change in a longitudinal assessment is planned. Use may also be appropriate in similar DEEs but would require validation in those populations.