Original Scale Research Articles

Psychometric testing of the Thai version of Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory version 2.

To assess the psychometric properties of the Thai version of Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory version 2 (CC-SC-CII-v2) among primary caregivers of individuals with any single or multiple chronic illnesses. The instrument encompasses three scales that evaluate Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care (CC-SC) Maintenance, Monitoring and Management. The English version CC-SC-CII-v2 was translated and adapted for Thai context, and a cross-sectional multicenter study involved 430 caregivers from 16 primary care centres in Thailand. Structural validity, internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were examined. The original two-factor CC-SC Maintenance scale required a re-specified model for good fit, while the CC-SC Monitoring and CC-SC Management scales fit well. The simultaneous model of three scales demonstrated satisfactory fit. The CC-SC Maintenance and CC-SC Management scales both had a composite reliability index of 0.85, with omega coefficients of 0.86 and 0.83, respectively. CC-SC Monitoring had an alpha coefficient of 0.89. The intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.84 to 0.91, indicating good test-retest reliability. The Thai CC-SC-CII-v2 is a valid and reliable instrument that can provide clinicians and investigators with an evaluation of the contributions of caregivers to the self-care of patients with chronic illnesses.

The mental health self-direction scale: An abridged version and its sensitivity to change.

The Mental Health Self-Direction Scale (MHSD) measures the extent to which clients are able to resolve mental problems by themselves. Because this scale had not yet been evaluated, the aims of this paper were (a) to evaluate and improve the MHSD and (b) to explore the sensitivity to change of the improved scale. The MHSD was evaluated and improved by means of confirmatory factor analyses of data from one longitudinal and two cross-sectional outpatient sample. Inconsistent items were removed in a stepwise fashion. Subsequently, the scale's sensitivity to change was explored in the longitudinal sample by using latent growth curve models. The original 31-item scale was reduced to a more stable version with 19 items that yielded four factors named: actorship, demoralization, commitment, and understanding. Throughout clients' treatment, actorship and understanding tended to increase; demoralization tended to decrease; and commitment remained consistently high. The abridged MHSD scale is stable and sensitive to change. It measures the extent to which clients experience and develop self-direction throughout their treatment. With the use of the new MHSD scale, new views on mental health that emphasize clients' ability to actively engage and cope with health-challenges can be incorporated into clinical treatment.

A short version of odor awareness scale (OAS-6)

People differ in their awareness of odors in the environment. This metacognitive ability can be measured with The Odor Awareness Scale (OAS). However, the OAS consists of 32 items what makes it difficult to use in research where awareness of odors is not the main variable of interest. This study introduces a shortened version of the OAS. Participants completed either the original OAS (n = 268, 72 % women) or the shortened OAS-7 version comprising 7 items selected from the original scale (n = 220, 61 % women). Based on the validation analyses, one item has been further deleted due to low factor loading. The obtained OAS-6 showed good psychometric properties as established with: confirmatory factor analysis fit indices (χ2 = 17.30, p = 0.044, CFI = 0.977, TLI = 0.962, RMSEA = 0.065, SRMR = 0.039), high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.80, McDonald’s ω = 0.81), and temporal stability (test–retest correlation after 6 weeks: r = 0.91). The OAS and OAS-6 showed similar correlations with Individual Significance of Olfaction Questionnaire total score and subscales. On average, women scored higher on OAS-6 than men, mirroring the pattern observed in the OAS. In summary, OAS-6 proves to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing odor awareness. Its quick completion time (within 2 min) opens venues for its application in diverse studies exploring metacognitive aspects of olfactory perception, including investigations into the interplay between odorous environments and human health or in clinical research.

Translation of SCAR-Q into Finnish and psychometric validation of the Finnish version

BackgroundAn effective patient-reported outcome measure for scars is needed to assess scar treatments and thus improve scar management. The recently developed SCAR-Q questionnaire for all scar types, which consists of the Appearance, Symptom, and Psychosocial impact scales, has been developed with patients’ input. The aim of this study was to translate the SCAR-Q into Finnish and to assess its psychometric properties in burn patients. MethodsThe translation protocol followed the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research guidelines. Participants for the psychometric validation of the Finnish SCAR-Q were adults with deep second or third degree burns treated with skin grafting in the Helsinki Burn Centre between 2006 and 2017. Internal consistency was assessed by using Crohnbach’s alpha and reliability by using ICC, SEM, R values, and Mann-Whitney U-test. The internal structure of each SCAR-Q subscale was investigated by using exploratory factor analysis. Results190 burn patients participated in the psychometric validation of the Finnish SCAR-Q. 135 (71.1 %) of the participants were male. Ceiling effect was present in all subscales. Internal consistency was excellent with all subscales, Crohnbach’s alpha 0.97, 0.91, and 0.94. Reliability was good in all subscales, ICC 0.84, 0.88, and 0.91. The parallel analysis suggested inclusion of one factor into factor analysis for the Appearance scale and the Psychosocial impact scale, whereas two factors for the Symptom scale. ConclusionThe Finnish version of the SCAR-Q is equivalent with the original scale, showed excellent internal consistency, factor analysis confirmed it for the Appearance and Psychosocial impact scale, and demonstrated good reliability with all subscales when used in assessing burn scars.

A flexible count regression model with varying precision

In this paper, we formulate mean and dispersion submodels for the class of Bell-Touchard regression models, and so we introduce the Bell-Touchard regression model with varying precision for count response variables. This regression model is, in some aspects, similar to the double generalized linear model framework, allowing for parameter interpretation in terms of the response variable in its original scale. We also provide an iterative process to estimate the regression coefficients in the mean and dispersion submodels, and develop diagnostic measures for this class of regression models. The methods developed are applied in a real data set for illustrative purposes.

"Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of perinatal grief scale in Urdu: Addressing a gap in the research of perinatal loss in Pakistan-Cross-sectional validation study".

Perinatal grief have a significant influence on maternal mental health, hence appropriate tools for assessment are necessary. In this study, we translated and validated the Perinatal Grief Scale in Urdu (PGS-Urdu) for use in Pakistan, therefore filling the gap in validated tools. Data was collected from 165 women using consecutive sampling. Initially, "forward/backward" translation was used. For validity, content validity index and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used respectively, and "Cronbach's-Alpha" for reliability. In the validity stage, items 8, 11, 23, and 32 of the original scale were eliminated based on feedback from the target groups and the expert panel. For data-analysis, SPSS 26 and Amos 26 were used. In analyzing the "Confirmatory factor analysis", the "all-fitness indicators" validated the three-factor structure of 29-item main scale. Cronbach alpha value was 0.83 for the entire scale The CFA results showed that all fitness indicators, with the exception of four, had loadings greater than 0.20, supporting the main scale's three-factor structure. With a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.83 for overall reliability, and varied from 0.81 to 0.87 for the PGS-U variables. the PGS-U exhibits an acceptable level of internal consistency. The PGS-U identifies women in perinatal grief for medical and social care. This research supports using the Urdu perinatal grief scale in obstetrics and bereavement counseling to reduce maternal mental health issues.

The impact of natural constraints in linear regression of log transformed response variables

Abstract In linear regression, log transforming the response variable is the usual workaround regarding departures from the assumption of normality. However, the response variable is often subject to natural constraints, which can result in a truncated distribution of the residual errors on the log scale. In forestry, allometric relationships and tree growth are two typical examples a natural constraint; the response variable cannot be negative. Traditional least squares estimators do not account for constrained response variables. For this study, a modified maximum likelihood (MML) estimator that takes natural constraints into account was developed. This estimator was tested through a simulation study and showcased with black spruce tree diameter increment data. Results show that the ordinary least squares estimator underestimated large conditional expectations of the response variable on the original scale. In contrast, the MML estimator showed no evidence of bias for large sample sizes. Departures from distributional assumptions cannot be overlooked when the model is used for predictive purposes. Both Monte Carlo error propagation and prediction intervals rely on these assumptions. In this context, the MML estimator developed for this study can be used to properly propagate the errors and produce reliable prediction intervals.

Validity and reliability study of Turkish version of abbreviated science anxiety scale

The aim of this study is to adapt “Abbreviated Science Anxiety Scale”(ASAS) developed by Megreya et al. (2021) to Turkish and to investigate the reliability and validity of Turkish-ASAS. In the adaptation study, some steps were determined and implemented. After the English-Turkish translation validity of ASAS was ensured, data were collected within the scope of the survey study for reliability and validity studies. The study group in the scale adaptation study are experts (teaching staff in science education, Science teacher, and English teacher) and 410 middle school students (Grade 5, 6, 7 and 8). After the descriptive statistics and item analysis were made, a exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to reveal the factor structure. The adaptation stage findings shows the two-factor structure of ASAS. These factors are “learning science anxiety” and “science evaluation anxiety”. Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient for ASAS-Turkish was calculated as 0.703. As in the original scale, ASAS-Turkish is a 5-point Likert type scale and consisting of 9 items. The results show that ASAS-Turkish is a short, valid and reliable tool. Low scores on the ASAS indicate low anxiety and high scores indicate high anxiety. It can be used to guide and enhance scientific study.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence 2.0 in Young University Students.

Dating violence has become a problem of social relevance with short- and long-term health consequences. Nurses are in a privileged position to detect and address this problem in health facilities and as school nurses in schools, providing health education and detecting this violence correctly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-cultural validation of the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence-Short (MSDV 2.0). A validation investigation was carried out in two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation of the items and content validation of the Portuguese version of MSDV 2.0 and (2) psychometric validation. Phase (1): The items of the original version include a cross-cultural translation from Spanish to Portuguese and analysed by a group of experts in gender violence and by the authors of the original scale, then a back translation was made and again reviewed by the experts. Young university students also participated for face validity, and a pilot test was carried out. Phase (2): Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the robust maximum-likelihood estimation method, which confirmed the five-dimensional structure, obtaining good fit rates (chi-square significance (χ2) = 187.860 (p < 0.0001); root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.049; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.937; Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.923). Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha (α) = 0.88 to 0.70). Finally, scores of the Portuguese versions MSDV 2.0 were correlated, as expected, positively with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (r = 0.36 to 0.16) and negatively with the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36, Health Survey (SF-36) (r = -0.30 to -0.14). To date, it is the only instrument that measures dating violence in a multidimensional way validated in the Portuguese university context.

Adaptation of Teachers' Competency for Meeting the Instructional Needs of Gifted Students Scale and Investigation of Some Variables

Teachers' pedagogical competencies are vital in meeting the special education needs of gifted students effectively. In this context, the aim of this study is to adapt the scale developed by Jarrah and Almarashdi (2019) to the Turkish language in order to examine the pedagogical competencies of teachers teaching in different branches necessary for the education of gifted students and to investigate the competencies of teachers in different branches using the adapted scale. For this purpose, firstly, the scale investigating teachers' pedagogical competencies was adapted into Turkish, and then how this competency differs according to different variables was examined with the relational survey method. The original scale has two sub-dimensions: teacher competence (9 items) and school support (10 items). As a result of the validity analyses, the adapted scale includes 8 items for teacher competence and 4 items for school support. As a result of the reliability analysis of the adapted scale, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.92. According to the findings obtained after the application of the scale, it was seen that teachers' competence in meeting the special education needs of gifted students was at a low level. In the face of the findings, this study emphasizes that teachers should receive professional training based on pre-service and in-service practice in order to increase their competencies.

Arabic translation and cultural adaptation of Hill-bone compliance to high blood pressure therapy scale

BackgroundAdherence to prescription medications is vital to the success of any treatment plan, especially for chronic health conditions, such as hypertension (HTN). Although there are different scales used in assessing adherence to prescription medications, most if not all, of those scales are not available in Arabic. The absence of essential assessment tools makes the appraisal of adherence to prescription medications very difficult for native Arabic speakers. Therefore, this study aimed to translate and validate the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy (CHBPT) scale, which is commonly used to assess adherence to antihypertensive medications, among a sample of Arabic-speaking patients with HTN. MethodsThis was a single-center cross-sectional study that took place at a university-affiliated hospital. It interviewed adult (>18 years) patients with HTN who were visiting the primary care clinics between January and November 2020. Non-Arabic speakers, those under 18 years of age, individuals without a diagnosis of HTN, and patients without any previously filled prescription medication for HTN within the past three months were excluded. The forward–backward translation method was used after receiving permission from the originators of the questionnaire to translate their scale to Arabic. Test-retest and Cronbach alpha methods were used to assess the reliability. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used to examine the construct validity. ResultsOne hundred and forty-one patients consented and participated in the study. Most of the patients were ≥ 50 years old (75 %), male (72 %), and had another chronic health condition besides HTN (99 %). The translated scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.83) and reliability (intercorrelation coefficient of 0.9). The Kaiser-Meyer-Oklin was 0.82 indicating adequate sampling to conduct factor analysis; hence, three factors (e.g., subscales) were extracted similar to the original scale. The mean scores for appointment keeping, medication taking, and reducing sodium intake subscales, as well as for the overall scale were 5.62 ± 1.39, 33.94 ± 3.87, 9.73 ± 2.1, and 49.29 ± 5.21, respectively. ConclusionThe translated version of the Hill-Bone CHBPT scale has both good reliability and validity and will hopefully help healthcare providers assess and monitor HTN patients’ adherence to their antihypertensive medication regimens. Multicenter studies should be conducted to verify the validity and reliability of the translated questionnaire among different Arabic-speaking patient populations with HTN.

The Reliability, Validity and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Turkish Version of Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professions Students

Objective: The study is aimed to study for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural adaptation of the Turkish version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for undergraduate health profession students (JSE-HPS).&#x0D; Methods: Cultural adaptation of JSE-HPS was carried out in 5 stages according to the protocol of Beaton et al.JSE-HPS was administered to students who educated in the departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing and Health Management. The reliability of JSE-HPS was evaluated by internal consistency and test-retest analysis using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Criterion validity assessed by comparing the scores of JSE-HPS and Emphatic Tendency Scale (ETS). An analysis of construct validity was carried out by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.&#x0D; Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed the presence of three factors that explain 44.68% of the total variance and that correspond to the dimensions of the original scale. Following factor structures were obtained as “Perspective taking”, “Compassionate care” and “Standing in patient's shoes”. Turkish version of JSE-HPS total score were significantly correlated with the ETS total score (r=0.187, p=.005). The Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency coefficient was found α = .793. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.86. The confirmatory factor analysis verified a good fit of the model (χ2/df = 1.776).&#x0D; Conclusion: The Turkish version of JSE-HPS is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating empathy levels of undergraduate health professions students.

Turkish validity and reliability of the Premenstrual Change Coping Inventory.

This study was conducted to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Premenstrual Change Coping Inventory (PMS-Cope). A total of 170 women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the methodological study. Data were collected between the dates of November 5, 2018 and May 5, 2019 with personal information form, PMS-Cope Turkish version, and Premenstrual Syndrome Scale. The PMS-Cope was obtained through the translation-back translation method and the content validity was obtained according to expert opinions. After the factor analysis, the Turkish version of the PMS-Cope consisted of three sub-dimensions as in the original scale. The factor loadings of the three-dimensional scale ranged from 0.46 to 0.84, and the explained variance (60.329%) was at the desired level. As a result of structural equation modeling; ×2/SD values of the scale were found to be 4.19, GFI 0.93, AGFI 0.91, CFI 0.95, RMSEA 0.079, and SRMR 0.082, and this scale was acceptable. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the PMS-Cope was 0.86. It was determined that item-total score correlations were higher than 0.30 in all items of PMS-Cope and there was no need to remove items from the scale. When the mean scores of the lower 27% and upper 27% of the scale were compared, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p < 0.05). The PMS-Cope score was 41.04 ± 8.99. It was determined that the Turkish version of the PMS-Cope was a valid and reliable measurement tool.

The Turkish Version of the Compassionate Care Assessment Tool: A Validity and Reliability Study.

Background and Purpose: The Compassionate Care Assessment Tool was designed to evaluate the compassionate care characteristics of nurses. The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version. Methods: This study was a methodological type of study. Data were collected from 300 patients hospitalized in different services. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and LISREL 8.7. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: The content validity index of the scale was 0.94. Confirmatory factor analysis conducted on the Turkish form showed that all items fell within the subscales of the original scale. and that their factor loads were between 0.37 and 0.78. The Cronbach's alpha of the scale was 0.897. Conclusions: The tool is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating compassionate care given by nurses.

(PM-24) TRANSLATION AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF THE KAROLINSKA INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE SCALE INTO BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE: A METHODOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract Introduction Interpersonal violence is a global concern with significant implications for mental health and mortality. The Karolinska Institute in Sweden developed the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS), a semi-structured interview assessing interpersonal violence experiences as victims or aggressors across childhood and adulthood. Objective Our aim was to translate and culturally adapt the KIVS for use in the Brazilian population. Methods: The translation process involved ten stages based on The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines. Back-translation was performed by a clinical psychologist unfamiliar with the original scale. The English versions were cross compared by the original instrument author. The consensus version underwent comprehension evaluation by eight participants, comprising four healthcare professionals and four patients from the AISEP - Excessive Sexual Drive and Prevention of Negative Outcomes Related with Sexual Behavior at Instituto de Psiquiatria of Hospital das Clínicas of São Paulo. A 5-point Likert scale assessed participant comprehension, with 80% agreement indicating successful equivalence. Sentences were revised until this consensus was achieved. The finalized translation, incorporating contextual revisions, underwent syntactic and spelling review. Results After application to eight participants (4 women and 4 men), 7 rated with the highest comprehension score (5.0), and 1 with 4.9. A final report documented the entire KIVS translation and validation process. Conclusion The translation and cultural adaptation of the KIVS into Brazilian Portuguese were successful. Minor adjustments were made to enhance comprehension without compromising meaning. This adaptation provides a valuable tool for assessing interpersonal violence in the Brazilian context, with implications for research and clinical practice. Financing FAPESP.

Does Changing Scale Items’ Contexts Impact Its Psychometric Properties? A Comparison Using the PERMA-Profiler and the Workplace PERMA-Profiler

The present study evaluated the empirical distinction between the PERMA-Profiler and the Workplace PERMA-Profiler, which measure flourishing using the same items with different contexts (i.e., general vs. workplace orientations). Both scales were administered online via MTurk (N = 601), and single-group measurement and structural invariances were assessed. Partial metric and scalar invariances were supported, indicating that the PERMA constructs were measured equivalently across scales (except for the relationships factor). Structural properties (covariances, means) were not invariant, indicating distinct utility for each scale in their respective contexts. The results suggest that simple adaptations to items to change their context, but not content, may retain the original scale’s psychometric properties and function with discrimination.

Tools to measure the burden on informal caregivers of cancer patients: A literature review.

(1) To describe existing tools to assess the burden of informal caregivers of people with cancer, (2) to describe how these tools have been validated and (3) to describe the areas of interest of existing assessment tool entries. The caregiver burden of informal caregivers of people with cancer greatly affects their lives. There is a wide variety of relevant assessment tools available, but there are no studies to help researchers to select tools. A search was conducted using the keywords 'cancer', 'caregiver', 'burden' and 'scale' in Medline (PubMed), CINAHL and EMBASE to include articles that developed or applied tools to assess the burden on informal caregivers of cancer patients. Once eligible tools were identified, we searched their 'primary reference' studies. If the original scale was assessed in a population other than informal caregivers of cancer patients, we again searched for psychometric measures in the population of caregivers of cancer patients. This study retrieved 938 articles on developing or applying the informal caregiver burden instrument for cancer patients, including 42 scales. Internal consistency of the original scales ranged from 0.53 to 0.96. Nineteen scales initially developed to assess caregiver burden for patients with dementia, stroke and other disorders were later used for caregivers of cancer patients, eight of which have not yet been validated. Reclassifying all scale domains of concern revealed that scale assessments focused more on caregivers' physical health, emotional state and caregiving tasks. This review identifies many scales for assessing informal caregiver burden in cancer patients and gives scales recommended. However, a portion still needs to be validated. The development of a new scale proposes to be based on a theoretical framework and to consider dimensions for assessing support resources. What problem did the study address?: This paper collates assessment tools on the burden of informal carers of people with cancer. It also provides information on the applicable population, reliability and validity. What were the main findings?: 41 scales could be considered for use, eight of which have not been validated. The scales focus more on assessing caregivers' physical health, emotional state and caregiving tasks, and less on the dimension of support resources. Where and on whom will the research have an impact?: There are implications for informal carers of cancer patients in hospitals or in the community, as well as for relevant researchers. Retrieved with reference to systematic evaluation. No patient or public contribution.

Measurement invairance and construct validity of the Turkish version of the learner autonomy scale in a sample of high and secondary school students

The goal of this research is to adapt the 24-item "Learner Autonomy Scale" developed by Sereti and Giossos (2018) in higher education samples into Turkish by examining the psychometric properties of high school and secondary school samples, and to determine whether these groups are equivalent in terms of measurement invariance. The scale was applied in high school (n = 475) and secondary school (n = 395) samples consisting of 870 students. Different from the original four-factor scale form, EFA applied to both groups revealed a two-factor (factor load range: .308-.775) and 21-item. Correlation values (r = .209-.392, p˂.001) indicate that the factors are not strongly related. The factors produced adequate internal consistency coefficients (α = .706-.866; ω = .708-.871) and were validated by meeting the fit indices accepted in the literature for CFA. Measurement invariance tests revealed strong invariance for the structural and metric tests and partial invariance for the scalar test in high school and secondary school samples. More research is needed to determine why the intersections of items 19, 20, and 21 are not invariant. The main contribution to "learner autonomy" in this study is the adaptation and justification of a valid and reliable measurement tool for determining autonomy in the adolescent age group. The use of the adapted scale in different educational environments and in the examination of "autonomy" by adapting it specific to the field (science, mathematics, etc.) will provide important implications for further theoretical studies.

Adaptation of the Turkish Family of Origin Scale and the Development of Parallel Short Forms

ABSTRACT There is a growing body of research in counseling-related fields that investigates the influence of the family of origin experience as a determinant for family patterns. We examined the psychometric properties of the Family of Origin Scale (FOS) in a Turkish sample to establish its applicability as a research tool and proposed a two parallel short version of the FOS. We addressed these objectives in two different studies. The purpose of these studies was to examine the applicability, validity, and reliability of these two FOS in a Turkish samples. In the first study, because of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses conducted with two other sample groups of university students, it was found that the theoretically proposed factor structure of the FOS needed to be supported in the Turkish sample. A reliable and valid single-factor structure was obtained in the Turkish-adapted version. In the second study, two short forms, each with 20 items, were created and applied to two different sample groups of university students. Both forms, each measuring intimacy and autonomy, had a single-factor structure and showed a strong and significant correlation with each other and the 40-item FOS. The outcomes of the present investigation indicate a strong and statistically significant link between the shortened and comprehensive forms of the FOS contributing to the assessment in marital family therapy.

Food Thought Suppression Inventory: Item response theory and measurement invariance in Portuguese adults

The Food Thought Suppression Inventory (FTSI) is a 15-item measure to assess cognitive suppression related to food. The present study aimed to: 1) study the original 15-item FTSI in both women and men through item response theory (IRT), using a graded response model; 2) replicate the factor structure obtained previously in a women sample and test the measurement invariance across body mass index (BMI) groups. In Study 1 (N = 434), the IRT model resulted in an 11-item FTSI shortened version that was equivalent across a community sample of women and men. The original FTSI was highly correlated with the FTSI short version. The short version also presented comparable correlations as the original scale in relation to body image cognitive fusion, psychological flexibility and eating psychopathology. In Study 2 (N = 435), confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the FTSI short version fitted the data well among women with normal weight and those with overweight/obesity, with the measure demonstrating invariance across both groups. These findings indicate that the FTSI short version, comprising the highest quality items, is a reliable and valid measure to assess food thought suppression in both women and men, and maintains the same factorial structure across women's BMI groups. Clinical implications were addressed.