Psychometric Strengths Research Articles

SCALE OF SELF-ASSESSMENT OF MENTALIZATION AND SELF-AGENCY DEVELOPMENT IN MENTALIZATION-BASED THERAPY PROCESS (SAMS): FIRST VALIDATION

Developing reliable and valid tools for measuring the effectiveness of psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions is a critical task of modern psychological science and practice in Ukraine. The article presents a description of approbation of the psychological questionnaire (scale) for measuring self-assessment of development mentalization and self-agency in the process of mentalization-based psychological counseling (therapy) (SAMS). SAMS was developed within the theoretical psychoanalytic paradigm based on the psychodynamic tradition of empirical studies of the effectiveness of psychological interventions. The theory of mentalization by P. Fonagy and the theory of self-agency by J. Knox became the theoretical foundation of the SAMS. The purpose of the empirical study is to develop the body of SAMS and to check it for reliability and validity. Psychometric strengths of the SAMS were checked on a sample of clients of the project “Poradnya” (psychological counseling center) of psychology and psychotherapy Department of the Ukrainian Catholic University. 86 people were studied in the initial research and 32 in the re-test research. The study examined the SAMS methodology for internal, constitutional, and re-test reliability and its structural and constitutional convergent validity. According to the results of the conducted empirical research, it can be stated that the SAMS technique has high reliability and validity. Therefore, it can be used in further scientific studies of the effectiveness of psychological interventions in the same way as in psychological practice in Ukraine.

Examining Childhood Adversities in Chinese Health Science Students Using the Simplified Chinese Version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (SC-ACE-IQ).

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent, costly, and associated with poor health outcomes in adults. Little is known about ACE prevalence rates or strategies for measuring ACEs among young adults in Mainland China. The aims of this study were to (a) translate the ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) into Simplified Chinese, (b) assess the psychometric strength of the Simplified Chinese version of the ACE-IQ (SC-ACE-IQ), and (c) compare SC-ACE-IQ scores calculated using binary and frequency scoring methods. The ACE-IQ was translated from English to Simplified Chinese and evaluated for content validity, criterion validity, and test–retest reliability. Chinese young adults (n = 566) aged 18–38 years who were health science students were recruited in Shanghai, China from May to August 2020. ACE exposures were compared using binary and frequency scoring methods, as proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The SC-ACE-IQ has good content validity (S-CVI = 0.89) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.88). SC-ACE-IQ scores were associated with depressive (binary: r = 0.26, frequency: r = 0.29; p < 0.001) and anxiety (binary: r = 0.22, frequency: r = 0.24; p < 0.001) symptoms. Higher proportion of participants reported exposure to at least one ACE and four or more ACEs when using the binary scoring method compared to the frequency scoring method. The SC-ACE-IQ is a valid and reliable ACE measure for Chinese health science students. Using frequency methods may underestimate exposure to ACEs among this population. Researchers should carefully select scoring methods for different study populations and purposes.

Screening and Assessment of Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Executive Summary and Road Map for Clinical Implementation

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) prevalence is reported as high as 90%. Cancer-related fatigue is multidimensional and associated with lower health-related quality of life. Effective screening and assessment are dependent upon use of valid, reliable, and clinically feasible measures. This Executive Summary of the Screening and Assessment of Cancer-related Fatigue Clinical Practice Guideline provides recommendations for best measures to screen and assess for CRF based on the quality and level of evidence, psychometric strength of the tools, and clinical utility. Methods: After a systematic review of the literature, studies evaluating CRF measurement tools were assessed for quality; data extraction included psychometrics and clinical utility. Measurement tools were categorized as either screens or assessments. Results: Four screens are recommended: European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Distress Thermometer, and the One-Item Fatigue Scale. Eight assessments are recommended: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue, Piper Fatigue Scale—Revised, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Cancer Fatigue Scale, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue Short Form and CAT, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20. Discussion: This Executive Summary is a synopsis of and road map for implementation of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Assessment of CRF. Review of the full Clinical Practice Guideline is recommended [10.1093/ptj/pzac120]. Additional research focused on responsiveness of instruments is needed in order to consider them for use as outcome measures. Screening and assessing CRF will result in opportunities to improve the quality of life of individuals with cancer.

Reliability of the Critical Thinking in Communication Science and Disorders: A Content-Specific Critical Thinking Assessment

Introduction: Students and professionals in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) need to exhibit good critical thinking (CT) skills when engaged in clinical tasks. CSD clinicians must make decisions that are free from biases and support their claim with facts. Thus, CSD clinicians need to be trained to question their clinical practices and to skeptically evaluate new practices that develop. A content-specific CT test can help determine if students are developing these skills. However, to date, no such content-specific CT assessment exists for CSD. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the current version of a specific content CT assessment, the Critical Thinking in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CTCSD). Methods: A sample of 150 CSD graduate students enrolled in three programs participated. They completed an online Qualtrics survey that consisted of the CTCSD. They completed the Qualtrics survey twice, once at the beginning of a semester and once at the end. The participant responses were independently scored by two research associates. The data were analyzed for reliability in three ways. Intra-subject reliability was assessed by comparing scores across the two testing sessions. Internal consistency of the items to measure a common construct was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Guttman’s Lambda 6. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. In addition, the time used to complete the survey was analyzed. Results: The students from the three programs scored similarly on the CTCSD. High reliability ratings occurred for the intra-subject, internal consistency, and inter-rater measures. Discussion/Conclusion: The results indicate the reliability of the CTCSD. In combination with previous results indicating the face, construct, and criterion validity of the CTCSD, it appears to have psychometric strength. The CTCSD may help academic and clinical faculty select learning activities and focus feedback to their graduate students in order to reinforce skills the students exhibit and to develop other skills.

The Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale: An Item Response Theory Analysis.

Ambivalence has a prominent role in the historical formulations of schizotypy and schizophrenia, as well as borderline personality disorder. However, it has been overlooked by our current diagnostic nomenclature. The Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale (SAS) is a 19-item self-report scale developed to examine ambivalence relevant to schizotypy and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Questionnaire, interview, and ambulatory assessment studies support the construct validity of the measure as a predictor of schizophrenia-spectrum and borderline psychopathology. However, studies have not adequately examined the item properties and factor structure of the scale. To examine the psychometric features of the SAS, the present research applied item response theory and differential item functioning methods using a large sample of adults (n = 7096). Analyses of dimensionality were consistent with essential unidimensionality, and a 2PL IRT model found good item discrimination, an appropriate range of item difficulty, minimal local dependence, and excellent item fit. Analyses of differential item functioning found essentially no bias for gender on any items and very small effects for two items for racial/ethnic identity. Overall, the analyses reveal many psychometric strengths of the Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale and support its use a single-factor instrument for assessing ambivalence in diverse subgroups of adults.

The Effectiveness of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Scale: A Psychometric Study

The purpose of the present study was to develop a psychometrically robust measure to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, entitled as the "Effectiveness of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Scale [EPPS]". This scale was designed to assess the changes experienced by patients/analysands who undergo psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. A sample of 216 individuals above the age of 18 who had been continuing their own psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis for at least three months participated in the study. The participants were given EPPS along with the other measures such as the Reassurance-Seeking Scale, The Satisfaction with Life Scale, and The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Factor structure of the EPPS and its reliability and validity coefficients were examined. Several analyses including reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, hierarchical regression analyses and MANOVA were conducted to confirm EPPS's factor structure and psychometric strength. Obtained results suggested that EPPS is a psychometrically sound measure to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoanalytic work.

Test-Retest Reliability of Self-Reported Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among at-Risk Adolescents.

Adolescents often engage in behaviors such as substance use and risky sexual activity that can lead to negative health and psychological consequences for themselves and others. Accurate measurement of these behaviors in surveys is challenging given that the behaviors are often viewed as undesirable and/or are illegal, so it is important to test the psychometric properties of instruments used to assess adolescent risk behaviors. The current study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability of a widely used measure of youth risk-taking behavior, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). A sample of 156 at-risk adolescents aged 16-18years (81% male; 61% White) completed the YRBS retrospectively across intervals ranging from 3 to 12days during their stay in a residential program at which they were under close supervision and had limited ability to engage in new risk behaviors. Participants were asked to complete the YRBS based on their "typical" (pre-program) behavior at both administrations, which were 10-14weeks into their stay. The reliability of responses was assessed using kappa and weighted kappa analyses. Findings indicate moderate to substantial reliability for nearly all items, suggesting that at-risk youth reliably reported their engagement in health risk behaviors across multiple administrations and supporting the psychometric strength of the YRBS measure for use with this population.

Validation of the Japanese Version of the Modified Balanced Time Perspective Scale: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity Results1

AbstractA balanced time perspective (BTP) is defined as a frequent and equal tendency to think positively about both one's past and future. A BTP is related to greater psychological well‐being, such as life satisfaction and wisdom, and these BTP associations may vary cross‐culturally, although few studies of BTP in non‐Western countries exist. In order to advance cross‐cultural comparisons of BTP, an important methodological step is to validate BTP measures in different cultures. This study aimed to develop and validate a Japanese version of the modified Balanced Time Perspective Scale (mBTPS). Japanese participants (N = 1,020, aged 18–79 years) completed the mBTPS‐J, along with Japanese versions of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI‐J) and measures of well‐being (life satisfaction and wisdom scales). Factor analysis of the mBTPS‐J resulted in a 27‐item mBTPS‐J consisting of Past, Present, and Future subscales. Correlations between the relevant mBTPS‐J and ZTPI‐J subscales, and with the well‐being measures, supported both convergent and predictive validity, respectively. The demonstrated psychometric strengths of the mBTPS‐J will allow for specific testing of important cross‐cultural questions.

How to screen for social withdrawal in primary care: An evaluation of the alarm distress baby scale using item response theory.

Early identification of infants at-risk is imperative for proper referral to intervention programs. The Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) is an eight-item observer-rated screening tool detecting social withdrawal in infants. Previously, a shortened five-item version of the scale (m-ADBB) has been proposed. To date, few studies have examined the validity of the two scales, and no studies have examined the validity of the ADBB after implementation as a universal screening tool in primary care. The aim of this study is to use Item Response Theory (IRT) to examine the construct validity of the ADBB when used by public health visitors in primary care. Participants were 24,752 infants (aged: 2-12.9 months) screened by public health visitors using the ADBB. Screenings were categorized into three waves according to the infant's age at the screening time (2-3.9 months, 4-7.9 months, and 8-12.9 months). Analyses were conducted separately on each wave. We checked IRT assumptions: (a) Unidimensionality, (b) Monotonicity, (c) Local independence, and (d) No DIF in relation to infant sex and gestational age. The 2PLM was used to assess model fit and estimate model parameters. Items fulfilled assumptions regarding unidimensionality, monotonicity, and no clinical and significant DIF. Local independence was not present for all items (i.e. 2, 7, and 8). The items showed moderate to good discriminatory abilities (alpha values ≥ 1.11) and discriminated best above average levels of social withdrawal (theta values ≥ 1.33). Items 7 and 8 showed nearly identical ICC suggesting that the two items discriminate equally well at the same level of social withdrawal. In addition, items 4 and 6 discriminated best at very high levels of social withdrawal, which might be of limited interest for screening purposes. Finally, the items showed similar patterns in terms of discrimination and location parameters across the three waves. The ADBB shows several psychometric strengths when used by public health visitors in primary care, and the items show good discriminatory abilities at the levels of social withdrawal of interest for screening purposes. Yet, the results also suggest that for first-line screening, the validity of the scale might be improved with the removal of items 4, 6, and 8 as suggested in the m-ADBB. However, before recommending implementation of the m-ADBB, studies comparing the criterion-related validity of the two scales are needed.

Psychometric Properties of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5: Findings From Family Members of Chinese Healthcare Workers During the Outbreak of COVID-19.

Background: Minimal research has examined utility of PC-PTSD-5 in family members of frontline medical workers. The aims of our study were to develop and elucidate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PC-PTSD-5 and to determine its usefulness in screening for possible PTSD in relatives of Chinese healthcare workers during the COVID-19.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional research in the relatives of medical staffs working in a general hospital during the COVID-19. Descriptive analysis was used to characterize demographic information of family members to find factors associated with PTSD symptoms. For reliability test, the internal consistency of PC-PTSD-5 was accessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. A validity test was assessed by Pearson's correlation between scales. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the optimal cutoff score with the maximum Youden Index in this study.Results: The result of demographic information indicated that gender and the type of work undertaken by medical staff in the family have a potential impact on the PTSD symptoms of medical staff's family members. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of PC-PTSD-5 was 0.83, indicating the high reliability. Good validity was also demonstrated by Pearson coefficient. By calculating the Youden index, a cutoff score of 2 was found to be optimal in our study, with sensitivity of 80.74% and specificity of 88.43%.Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated the robust psychometric strengths of the PC-PTSD-5, introducing a reliable tool for screening PTSD among vulnerable and neglected families of these medical workers.

Validation of the Social Information Processing Application (SIP-AP) across genders, socioeconomic levels, and forms of aggression.

The goals of the current study were to (a) replicate the factor structure of the Social Information Processing Application (SIP-AP), (b) evaluate the measurement invariance of the SIP-AP across genders, socioeconomic (SES) levels, and forms of aggression, and (c) assess the convergent validity of the SIP-AP through associations with aggression, social competence, and rule-breaking behavior. Participants were 189 racially/ethnically diverse children (53% male; Mage = 8.50 years) who completed the SIP-AP. Parents reported on children's aggression and social competence, children reported on their aggression, and we observed children's rule-breaking behavior. A five-factor model including Hostile Cue Interpretations, Aggressive Goals, Aggressive Responses, Aggressive Response Evaluations, and Prosocial SIP replicated in this sample. The model was invariant across genders, SES levels, and forms of aggression (physical, relational, covert, property destruction). Girls reported more Aggressive Goals than boys. Children from more economically disadvantaged families reported higher levels of Hostile Cue Interpretations, Aggressive Goals, and Aggressive Response Evaluations. Aggression was related to all SIP constructs in expected directions, social competence was negatively associated with Hostile Cue Interpretations, and rule-breaking behavior was positively linked to Aggressive Goals, Aggressive Responses, and Aggressive Response Evaluations. Results are discussed in terms of the psychometric strengths of the SIP-AP. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Development and Validation of a Short Form of the Forbearance Scale.

The Forbearance Scale (FS) is a 16-item self-report measure of forbearance. In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the FS subscale and composite scores and developed a 9-item short form of the measure (FS-SF 9). A sample of 1,137 participants was drawn from community, NGO, and college settings. The sample was split into a derivation sample (n = 567) and a validation sample (n = 570). Exploratory factor analyses of the derivation sample data were used to select short-form items. Using the validation sample, confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess fit for proposed item-to-factor assignments. The results of the confirmatory factor analyses supported that the FS-SF 9 had a theoretically congruent factor structure and that all the subscale and composite scores displayed high internal consistency. Correlations with scores from established measures of a lack of forgiveness and emotion regulation also supported the validity of the FS-SF 9. Our data suggest that the FS-SF 9 subscales and composite score retained the psychometric strengths of their longer FS counterparts. Overall, the short form of the FS provides a brief assessment of the construct measured by the full form. Theoretical and practical applications are discussed.

Development of a preliminary conceptual model of the patient experience of chronic kidney disease: a targeted literature review and analysis

BackgroundPatient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments should capture the experiences of disease and treatment that patients consider most important in order to inform patient-centred care and product development. The aim of this study was to develop a preliminary conceptual model of patient experience in chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on a targeted literature review and to characterize existing PRO instruments used in CKD.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases and recent society meetings were searched for publications reporting signs/symptoms and life impacts of CKD. Concepts identified in the literature review were used to develop a preliminary conceptual model of patient experience of CKD, overall, and within patient subpopulations of differing CKD causes, severities and complications. PRO instruments, identified from PRO databases, CKD literature and CKD clinical trials, were assessed for content validity, psychometric strength and coverage of concepts in the literature review.ResultsIn total, 100 publications met criteria for analysis; 56 signs/symptoms and 37 life impacts of CKD were identified from these sources. The most frequently mentioned signs/symptoms were pain/discomfort (57% of publications) and tiredness/low energy/lethargy/fatigue (42%); the most commonly reported life impacts were anxiety/depression (49%) and decrements in physical functioning (43%). Signs/symptoms and life impacts varied across the subpopulations and were more frequent at advanced CKD stages. The preliminary conceptual model grouped signs/symptoms into seven domains (pain/discomfort; energy/fatigue; sleep-related; gastrointestinal-related; urinary-related; skin−/hair−/nails-related; and other) and life impacts into six domains (psychological/emotional strain; cognitive impairment; dietary habit disruption; physical function decrements; interference with social relationships; and other). Eleven PRO instruments were considered to be promising for use in CKD; all had limitations.ConclusionsAlthough preliminary, the proposed conceptual model highlights key PROs for people with CKD and is intended to spur development of more tailored PRO instruments to assess these concepts.

Commentary: The construct validity of 'camouflaging' in autism: psychometric considerations and recommendations for future research - reflection on Lai etal. (2020).

Research on the construct of 'camouflaging' in autism and its sociodemographic/clinical correlates has far outpaced the work being done to establish the construct validity of camouflaging and its distinction from other similar constructs. The imprecision with which camouflaging is defined and measured has serious implications for future research on this topic, and unless additional effort is made to produce reliable and valid measurements of this construct, researchers will not be able to meaningfully assess important questions such as whether the effort of camouflaging one's behavior contributes to increased mental health difficulties. By reviewing the psychometric strengths and weaknesses of various operationalizations of camouflaging, this commentary highlights a pressing need for further measure validation in this area. Specific methodological guidance is provided for researchers interested in rigorously testing the validity of putative camouflaging measures.

Body image perception as predictor of positive and negative self-concept scale for young adults (BIPS)

PurposeBody image perception is a complex cognitive process that involves several different dimensions. This has necessitated several studies to have different findings about each dimension, therefore. This is because body image perception is a continuous and constantly evolving process. The development of self-concept depends largely on positive or negative perception of body image in today’s time. This paper aims to develop an instrument to measure beliefs and attitudes of people involved in the perception of body image, defined as the perception that a person has of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings that result into a positive or negative self-concept.Design/methodology/approachThe factorial structure, reliability, content validity and impact of gender on factor structure of body image perception scale (BIPS) were examined among university students (N = 200) in study, with male (n = 100) and female (n = 100) population. Self-made instrument BIPS was used.FindingsExploratory factor analysis using direct obliman method based on principal component analysis indicated a three-factor, 20-item scale including subscales 1) negative feeling; 2) public perception; and 3) future success. BIPS exhibited decent reliability (0.789) and content validity in both male and female university students, suggesting a highly significant difference between the two genders on BIPS.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation was that the sample was obtained from student population; therefore, it will not be entirely correct to generalize it to the whole population of Pakistan. Future studies need to include samples from different populations in Pakistan to bring out a more generalized view and try to minimize the variances in sample as much as possible for better results. Finally, the sample was drawn only from educated and young adult males and females (age ranging 17–28). Middle age and old age people must be included in future study. Also, in this study incremental and discriminant validity can be computed by comparing results on BIPS with any other body image questionnaire.Practical implicationsThis standard instrument can be efficiently used for the research purpose and will enable the researcher to identify the positive and negative feelings and attitudes of male and females towards their body image and towards the development of healthy self-concept. The scale can be used by clinical psychologists and medical health professionals to help assess and treat their patients more accurately.Originality/valueAll in all, it can be suggested that the findings received illustrated that body image perception differs significantly among both men and women in Pakistani culture. The newly established version of BIPS with its high reliability indicates that the scale can be used in future as well with diverse populations to assess whether which among them hold either positive or negative self-concept of themselves based on their body image perceptions. Moreover, as the psychometric strength of the scale is well established, it can be used with future researches by health psychologists, dietitians and nutritionists to identify body image concerns among young males and females, especially in individuals with eating disorders.

Psychometric Synthesis of the Parent‐Child Relationship Inventory

Assessment in counseling is strengthened when research exists to demonstrate the psychometric strength of scores from a particular instrument across samples. This study presents a psychometric synthesis of data across 52 publications that met criteria and reported use of the Parent‐Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI; Gerard, 1994) across disciplines and in numerous contexts. Results revealed low score reliability, with aggregated alphas of .63 to .83 and test‐retest coefficients of .62 to .79 over a 1‐year retest period across subscales and total score. There was little evidence of score validity, including no exploratory or confirmatory factor analytic studies, or evidence of diagnostic validity. Cautions for use of the PCRI and implications for professional counselors and researchers are discussed.

Measuring everyday creativity: A Rasch model analysis of the Biographical Inventory of Creative Behaviors (BICB) scale

Research on everyday creativity—the “little c” creative activities people do in their everyday lives—commonly uses self-report scales to assess people’s engagement in different activities. The present research presents a detailed psychometric analysis of the Biographical Inventory of Creative Behaviors (BICB), a 34-item yes/no checklist of common creative activities that has become one of the most popular self-report measures of everyday creative behaviors. Based on a sample of 2,359 adults, the reliability, dimensionality, item fit, item difficulty, and test information were evaluated from a Rasch model perspective. Overall, the BICB shows good evidence for score reliability and appears essentially unidimensional; a small cluster of misfitting and locally dependent items were flagged for impairing unidimensionality. The items’ difficulty level was generally moderate and suitable for the scale’s intended populations and purposes. Differential item functioning (DIF) based on gender and age, estimated via Rasch tree recursive partitioning methods, found notable gender-based DIF (generally reflecting culturally gendered qualities of some creative activities) but little age-based DIF. Taken together, the BICB has many psychometric strengths. Some opportunities for future scale refinement are discussed.

Adverse childhood experiences and impact on quality of life in adulthood: development and validation of a short difficult childhood questionnaire in a large population-based health survey

PurposeA short adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) measure is needed with non-intrusive items that include subjective evaluations of childhood. We validated a short Difficult Childhood Questionnaire (DCQ) that assesses ACEs using personal perceptions of events.MethodsThe study relied on 2019 data from a representative survey (N = 28,047) in Norway. We examined the DCQ’s factor structure, internal consistency, and discriminant validity in a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. As a group variable, we used whether the respondent had the ACE of parental alcohol use disorder (adult children of alcoholics; ACOA). To assess the DCQ’s convergent validity, we used latent regression analysis with adulthood quality of life (QoL) as the outcome and mental distress and loneliness as potential mediators.ResultsThe DCQ’s latent mean was 0.86 (95% CI 0.82–0.90, p < 0.001) higher in the ACOA versus the non-ACOA group. The effect size suggested a large magnitude of this difference. The DCQ score was negatively associated with QoL and positively associated with mental distress and loneliness. For the score’s QoL effect [− 0.84 (95% CI − 0.87 to − 0.80, p < 0.001)], − 0.80 was indirect, and − 0.04 was direct. Thus, most of the association of DCQ with QoL occurred via mediators.ConclusionsThe results confirmed the DCQ’s discriminant and convergent validity and highlight this tool as an empirically supported approach to assess ACEs. Because of its brevity and psychometric strengths, the DCQ is useful for research and likely suited to mental health treatment settings.

Validation and Construct Validity of the Posttraumatic Avoidance Behaviour Questionnaire in a Sample of Trauma-Exposed Black Women.

Engaging in posttraumatic avoidance behaviors after a traumatic incident is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcomes. Given the inherent limitations in the scope of the two-item assessment of posttraumatic avoidance used in commonly administered measures of PTSD symptoms, the 25-item Posttraumatic Avoidance Behaviour Questionnaire (PABQ) was developed to assess a range of avoidance behaviors, including avoidance of visual and sensory reminders, trauma-related thoughts, and agoraphobia, as well as avoidance related to the home, sleep, and social interaction. However, the PABQ's utility is limited by its lack of (a) construct validity and (b) validation in diverse samples. To address these limitations, we examined the psychometric properties of PABQ scores in a sample of trauma-exposed Black women (N = 601, M age = 41 years). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the original seven-factor model fit the data well when Item 8 was excluded, χ2 (231, N = 602) = 497.86, RMSEA = .04, 90% CI [.04, .05], CFI = .99, TLI = .989, WRMR = .939, but reliability estimates were variable (i.e., Cronbach's αs = .70-.91). In addition, we found support for convergent validity, clinical validity, and incremental validity. These results provide evidence for the psychometric strengths of the PABQ in minority samples and suggest that it is a valid assessment of posttraumatic avoidance in Black women.

The self-reflection and insight scale: applying item response theory to craft an efficient short form

The human ability for self-consciousness—the capacity to reflect on oneself and to think about one’s thoughts, experiences, and actions—is central to understanding personality and motivation. The present research examined the psychometric properties of the Self-reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS), a prominent self-report scale for measuring individual differences in private self-consciousness. Using tools from Rasch and item response theory models, the SRIS was evaluated using responses from a large sample of young adults (n = 1192). The SRIS had many strengths, including essentially zero gender-based differential item functioning (DIF), but a cluster of poor performing items was identified based on item misfit, high local dependence, and low item difficulty and discrimination. Based on the IRT analyses, a concise 12-item scale, evenly balanced between self-reflection and insight, was crafted. The short SRIS showed strong dimensionality, reliability, item fit, and local independence as well as essentially no gender DIF. Taken together, the many psychometric strengths of the SRIS support its popularity, and the short form will be useful for research and applied contexts where an efficient, concise version is needed.