Communication Scale Research Articles

Modeling of network public opinion communication based on social combustion theory under sudden social hot events.

Sudden social hot events spread rapidly in the Internet era, which can easily cause group behaviors. Therefore, studying the law of public opinion communication has important theoretical and practical significance for controlling public opinion. This paper constructs the DBUS (Divorced-Burning-Unburning-Stable) model according to the social combustion theory deduced from the analogy of natural combustion phenomena. This paper comprehensively considers the influence of individual characteristics and external environment on the dissemination of online public opinion, introduces indicators such as individuals' self-awareness ability, authority to reflect individual differences, and takes the surrounding individual influence as an external environment factor. Through simulations, we find that (1) the speed of public opinion communication and the dissipation speed are related to cognitive ability, conformity and the network structure; (2) the credibility of the government and the media and the transparency of the information released are the most important factors affecting the scale of public opinion communication; In addition, the rationality and effectiveness of the model established in this paper are verified by an example.

Effects of an online program about intimate and romantic relationships for people with mental disorders (AIRIKI): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe concept of recovery has become internationally widespread. To promote personal recovery of individuals with mental disorders, it is important that they live life on their own terms. Many people with mental disorders wish to build intimate relationships and marry. However, people with mental disorders face obstacles in building such relationships and communicating with their partners. The program AIRIKI, which means “power to love,” was developed to help people with mental disorders gain confidence in building intimate relationships. The AIRIKI pilot study with one-group pre post test showed positive effects on self-esteem, hope, and communication. Therefore, the purpose of the proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to determine the effects of the videoconferencing program on self-esteem, hope, and self-confidence in communication among un-married people with mental disorders.MethodsThe proposed randomized controlled trial has two arms (intervention group and control group). After baseline questionnaire assessment, participants will be allocated randomly. Within two months of allocation, the intervention group will participate in videoconferences about intimate relationships and marriage with 2–5 participants and 3 facilitators, which will last 3 h, for two days. Three facilitators will support participants in each session. The intervention group will complete a questionnaire for outcome assessment at termination and one month after the program. The control group will complete the outcome questionnaire at one month after baseline and two months after baseline. The questionnaire will include the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Herth Hope Index (HHI), and Self-confidence in Communication Scale (SCS). Control group members can participate in a videoconference program, which will be held separately from the intervention group, after completing their outcome assessments.DiscussionThis trial is the first randomized controlled trial of which we are aware to test the effects of an online program for un-married people with mental disorders to consider and discuss their romantic relationship and marriage. The results will provide information on the effectiveness of an online program for people with mental disorders to imagine their romantic relationships and marriages.Trial registrationThis trial has been registered with the UNIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000052027; 2023/08/28).

Investigating the Impact of Social Communication Deficiencies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Their Parents' Depression and Anxiety Levels

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) significantly impacts individuals' social communication abilities, affecting both the diagnosed children and their families, especially the mental health of their parents. While existing literature has focused on the direct implications for individuals with ASD, the psychological toll on caregivers is often overlooked. This study explores the relationship between children's social communication challenges due to ASD and the subsequent mental health outcomes in their parents, specifically depression and anxiety levels. Using a correlational design, the research involved 400 parents of children with ASD aged 4-18 from various urban centers in Turkey. Data were collected using the Social Communication Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess children's social communication deficits and parents' psychological states. Spearman’s correlation coefficients and subgroup analyses evaluated the relationships between the severity of children's social communication problems and parental depression and anxiety levels. The findings revealed a strong correlation between the severity of social communication deficiencies in children with ASD and heightened levels of depression and anxiety among their parents. Spearman’s correlation coefficients showed significant negative correlations, with r=-0.218 for depression and r=-0.263 for anxiety. Parents of children with more severe communication deficits reported higher psychological distress. This pattern was consistent across different demographic subgroups. The study's unique contribution lies in its quantitative confirmation of these relationships within a Turkish urban population, underscoring the need for holistic, family-centered approaches in ASD management.

어린이집 교사의 의사소통능력향상을 위한 TCIT기반 집단상담 프로그램 개발

Objectives The purpose of this study is to develop a group counseling program based on Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT) to enhance the communication skills of early childhood daycare center teachers and to verify its effectiveness. Methods The needs of 215 early childhood daycare center teachers nationwide were surveyed, and the program was designed based on the ADDIE model. The designed program was applied to the experimental group, and its effects were analyzed by comparing it with a comparison group and a control group using the Communication Ability Scale (Fritz et al., 1999). Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0, and qualitative analysis was performed using session feedback reports, comprehensive feedback reports, and participants’ application logs from the experimental and comparison groups. Results For the development of the program, directions for the design, as well as the purpose and objectives of the program, were established. Subsequently, session-specific activity goals, content, and operation strategies were designed. The final program was completed through an expert validation process. When the final program was applied to the experimental group, the overall scores and sub-factor scores of the communication scale for the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the comparison group and the control group. In particular, qualitative analysis revealed that the sub-factors of memory, concentration, comprehension and interpretation, response, and analysis and evaluation improved among participants in the experimental group. Conclusions This study developed and applied a TCIT-based group counseling program, verifying its effectiveness in enhancing the communication skills of ealry childhood daycare center teachers. By demonstrating greater effectiveness compared to a comparison program (TA), the study highlights the potential applicability of this program in practical settings. Given the notable lack of effective programs aimed at improving the communication skills of preschool teachers, this study significantly increases the potential for future utilization of the developed program.

The Moderating Effect of Gender Role in Relationship Between Emotional Divorce and Marital Satisfaction: Comparison of Partial Least Square (PLS) and Consistent Partial Least Square Methods (PlSc) Methods.

Emotional divorce refers to a state of emotional disengagement from one's spouse, which can lead to marital dissatisfaction. Gender role conflict is a predictor of marital dissatisfaction and ultimately, divorce. The literature suggests that rigid adherence to traditional gender roles may contribute to emotional divorce. In this article, the authors aim to investigate the moderating effect of gender roles in the relationship between emotional divorce and marital satisfaction by using two multivariate methods in statistical analysis. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 539 women aged 18-65 years. The standard questionnaires used include 1) Bem Sex Role Inventory (Short form), 2) Gutman's Emotional Divorce Questionnaire, and 3) Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness (ENRICH) Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale. To achieve the purpose of the study, PLS and PLSc methods have been used. The mean age and time of marriage were 33.88 ± 6.6 and 13.03 ± 7.29 years. There is a significant negative relationship between emotional divorce and marital satisfaction. The gender role of most participants in the study has been androgenic and feminine, which has increased the moderating effect of this relationship. Also, when there is a common (reflective) factor model, Consistent Partial Least Square is more likely to provide a better fit than Partial Least Square. The results showed that higher women's marital satisfaction would be associated with lower emotional divorce. On the other hand, the role of gender is a mediating factor in marital satisfaction and emotional divorce. Having good male and female characteristics can have a positive impact on marital satisfaction, so increasing couples' knowledge of gender roles and trying to reduce traditional extreme roles can help increase marital satisfaction and reduce emotional divorce.

Sustainability Communication in Higher Education Institutions: Scale Development and Validation Study

This article aims to develop and validate the Sustainability Communication Scale in higher education institutions. An eight-step process proposed by DeVellis (2022) was applied to develop the scale, which consists of 32 items capable of measuring the level of sustainability communication in Turkish universities. A total of 1291 participants, comprising 109 academics and 1182 students, participated in the study. Expert opinion analysis, KMO and Barlett tests, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, and partial correlation analyses were all used to check the scale's validity and reliability. According to the results of the exploratory factor analysis using the principal components method, the scale consists of 4 factors: environmental sustainability communication, social sustainability communication, economic sustainability communication, and sustainability of communication. The general structure and measurement of the scale have been validated by confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency coefficient found using Cronbach's alpha was .769; internal consistency coefficients found using composite reliability were .875(F1), .888 (F2), .866(F3), .882(F4). The findings indicate that the scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Insights into medication adherence among Jordanian patients with dyslipidemia: evaluating health literacy, well-being, and doctor-patient communication.

This study aimed to assess medication adherence among Jordanian patients with dyslipidemia and evaluate the impact of health literacy, well-being, and doctor-patient communication on adherence in this population. Dyslipidemia is a prevalent condition that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and understanding the factors influencing medication adherence is crucial for improving patient outcomes. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2023. A convenience sample of adult Jordanians diagnosed with dyslipidemia was surveyed in a tertiary hospital using validated scales: the Lebanese Medication Adherence Scale-14 (LMAS-14), the Doctor-Patient Communication Scale (DPC), the WHO well-being index, and the health literacy scale. Bivariate analysis and linear regression models were employed to analyze associations. Among 410 participants (mean age 58.62 ± 12.11 years), the mean scores were LMAS-14 (35.10), DPC (55.77), WHO well-being (47.53), and health literacy (38.96). Higher medication adherence was associated with older age (B = 0.093, p = 0.049), university education (B = 2.872, p = 0.017), prior surgery (B = 2.317, p = 0.021), medium income level (B = 3.605, p = 0.006), and better doctor-patient communication (B = 0.166, p = 0.003). Conversely, cigarette smoking (B = -3.854, p = 0.001) and health insurance (B = -2.146, p = 0.039) were linked to lower adherence. The findings underscore the substantial interplay of socio-demographic and clinical factors affecting medication adherence. Enhanced public health interventions focusing on improving health literacy, communication quality, and addressing socio-economic conditions are vital for better adherence and patient outcomes in Jordan.

The Influence of Student Engagement and Teacher Interpersonal Communication on School Well-Being of Students

The objectives of this study were to: 1) Investigate the effects of student engagement and teacher interpersonal communication on school well-being, 2) Analyze the specific impact of teacher interpersonal communication on school well-being, and 3) Evaluate the combined influence of both student engagement and teacher interpersonal communication on school well-being. The study focused on all 12th-grade students at SMK Negeri 4 Palembang, selecting a sample of 87 students from three classes: Class XII Machining, Class XII Computer Network Engineering, and Class XII Modeling and Building Information Design. A probability sampling technique, specifically simple random sampling, was employed. Data collection involved three scales: the School Well-being Scale, the Student Engagement Scale, and the Teacher Interpersonal Communication Scale. The collected data was then analyzed using multiple linear regression with SPSS 26.0. The results revealed that: 1) Both student engagement and teacher interpersonal communication have a significant influence on school well-being at SMK Negeri 4 Palembang, with an F-value of 28.118, exceeding the F-table value of 3.104, and an R-value of 0.633. 2) Student engagement shows a positive and highly significant impact on school well-being, with a t-value of 7.497, surpassing the t-table value of 1.708 (t-count > t-table). 3) Teacher interpersonal communication also has a positive and significant effect on school well-being, with a t-value of 5.258, higher than the t-table value of 1.708 (t-count > t-table).

The effect of cranioplasty on outcomes and complications of unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and minimally responsive state.

Background Studies that have shown neurological improvement following cranioplasty (CP) after decompressive craniectomy (DC) in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) did not include control groups. The aim of this study was to assess the justification of CP for these patients. Methods Data were collected from medical records of inpatients with UWS and MCS admitted between 2002 and 2018. Results Of the 144 participants (mean age 40 years, 76% males, 75% in UWS), 37% had CP following DC. The Loewenstein Communication Scale (LCS) gain was 12±17 and 16±17 for the control and study patients, respectively. The corresponding consciousness recovery rate (based on Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores) was 51% and 53%, respectively. One-year survival rates were 0.80 and 0.93, and 5-year survival rates were 0.67 and 0.73, respectively. Mean outcome values were higher for the study group, but the differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions The study did not demonstrate that CP increases brain recovery or survival. Nevertheless, it showed that CP did not decrease them either, and it did not increase complications rate. The findings, therefore, support offering CP to patients with UWS and MCS as CP does not increase risks and can achieve additional goals for these patients.

Health literacy and the use of digital tools in older patients with cancer and their younger counterparts: A multicenter, nationwide study

ObjectivesTo evaluate health literacy (HL), assess the use of digital tools/sources, and identify factors associated with low or moderate HL in older (aged ≥65) and younger (18−64) patients with cancer. MethodsA cross-sectional multicenter study including patients with cancer was conducted in 26 centers in France. HL was assessed using the Functional, Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL) scale. Factors associated with low/moderate HL (score<median) were studied using logistic regression models. ResultsThe population comprised 669 patients aged 18–64 and 658 patients aged 65 + . The older patients used digital tools less than younger patients did. The median overall HL score was: 3.7 and 3.6, for younger and older patients respectively. The need for help to fill out the questionnaire was associated with low/moderate HL in both age groups. Then, older age and living in rural area were associated with low/moderate HL in younger patients only, and rare internet use in older patients. ConclusionThis article highlights the importance of considering HL in care management, as well as whom patients may present higher risk of low HL.Practice implications: It is crucial to assess HL in patients with cancer, and then to seize every opportunity to enhance HL.

Unlocking Workplace Dynamo: The Impact of Internal Trust and Communication on Igniting Work Engagement

Research Question: This study delves into the intricate relationships among internal communication, internal trust, and work engagement within the context of a developing business environment undergoing cultural and economic transition. Motivation: The fundamental research inquiries seek to ascertain the interconnections between the studied phenomena and elucidate the nature of these relationships. Work engagement, identified through previous research and contemporary business practices, emerges as a pivotal force with profound implications for motivation, management, and personal development within organizations. Idea: The introduction sets the stage by emphasizing the study's focus on relationships in a transitioning business environment. Subsequent sections meticulously articulate research objectives, explore the existing literature, pose research questions, and delineate the chosen methodology, elucidating the importance of standardized instruments and the rationale behind the selection of the Serbian organizational context. Results are presented with a focus on the identified correlations, leading to the formulation of two models. The subsequent discussion critically compares these models, offering insights into the implications of trust-determined communication on work engagement. Limitations are candidly acknowledged, underscoring the need for interpretative caution. Data: The research methodology predominantly employs a quantitative approach to unravel the complexities inherent in internal communication, internal trust, and work engagement. The study encompasses a substantial sample size, consisting of 708 respondents representing 16 working organizations in Serbia. Tools: To gauge these phenomena, standardized instruments such as Internal Trust, a shortened version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and the Internal Communication Scale were employed. The anticipated results unveil robust correlations among the elements under scrutiny. Findings: The findings culminate in the proposition of two models, with structural equation modelling revealing a model where trust determines communication, subsequently influencing work engagement as the more fitting representation. This model presents a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics within organizational frameworks. Contribution: Despite acknowledging certain limitations in the study, the research underscores its importance in the quest for the most influential factors contributing to work engagement in organizations. The research serves as a valuable contribution to the broader discourse on organizational behaviuor, shedding light on crucial factors that influence employee engagement in evolving business landscapes.

Health literacy and diabetes information preferences among Chinese immigrants: An Australian cross-sectional study.

Explore Australian-Chinese immigrants' health literacy and preferences and engagement with translated diabetes self-management patient education materials. The cross-sectional survey was conducted with Australian-Chinese immigrants at risk or with type 2 diabetes recruited via health services, and diabetes and community organisations. The survey had three parts: (1) diabetes screening; (2) sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics and preferences for translated materials; and (3) Functional, Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL) Scale. Of 381 participants, 54.3% reported diabetes (n = 207), the remainder pre-diabetes or at risk (45.7%, n = 174); 34.1% male; mean age 64.1 years. Average total health literacy (FCCHL) scores were 35.3/56 (SD = 8.7). Participants with greater English proficiency reported higher health literacy (p < 0.001). This pattern also existed for functional (p < 0.001), communicative (p = 0.007) and critical (p = 0.041) health literacy subdomains. Health literacy scores did not differ significantly based on years of residence in Australia (all p > 0.05). Although the majority of participants (75.6%, N = 288) were willing to receive translated diabetes information, only a small proportion (19.7%, N = 75) reporting receiving such materials. There is a clear need for co-designed diabetes patient education materials that meet the needs and adequately reach Australian-Chinese immigrants. In particular, these materials must support people with limited English-language proficiency. This study highlights important considerations for nurses seeking to improve diabetes care for Chinese immigrants when incorporating patient education materials as part of their nursing education.

Translation and Validation of the Korean Version of the Global Interprofessional Therapeutic Communication Scale: A Study of the Psychometric Properties among Korean Nurses

Purpose: This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the Global Interprofessional Therapeutic Communication Scale (K-GITCS), with the ultimate goal of improving therapeutic communication and patient engagement among Korean nurses.Methods: The study rigorously adhered to the original authors’ translation guidelines. A sample of 300 registered nurses from a tertiary hospital in South Korea participated in this research. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify the tool’s validity, and Cronbach’s ⍺ coefficients were calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of the K-GITCS.Results: The instrument’s reliability was substantiated by an adequate comparative fit index (0.984) and a high Cronbach’s ⍺ coefficient (0.94). The empirical results supported the three-factor structure of the K-GITCS, which comprised trust and rapport building, power sharing, and empathy.Conclusion: The study confirms that the K-GITCS is a valid, reliable, and culturally sensitive instrument for assessing therapeutic communication skills among nurses in Korea. It also highlights the importance of culturally tailored therapeutic communication training, particularly for promoting empathy in patient care. The study emphasizes the potential of the K-GITCS to significantly enhance nurses’ therapeutic communication practices, thereby improving the quality and safety of patient care. It is recommended to apply this tool among nursing students, academic institutions, and interprofessional healthcare providers to facilitate structured educational interventions that will improve therapeutic communication.

Gambaran Komunikasi Interpersonal Siswa Ditinjau dari Jenis Kelamin dan Implikasinya dalam Bimbingan dan Konseling

This research is motivated by the existence of students who lack self-confidence when communicating with teachers and peers, because of their lack of self-confidence students are afraid and hesitant to speak and this can be an obstacle to communicating. Lack of skills when communicating such as listening, speaking clearly, and reading other people's expressions. This research aims to:describe the picture of student interpersonal communication, describe the picture of student interpersonal communication in terms of gender. This research uses a quantitative approach with comparative descriptive quantitative type. The population of this study consisted of 523 students and the research sample was 227 students with engineeringproportionate stratifiedrandom sampling. The instrument used is the interpersonal communication scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive techniques and to see differences using the t-test. The research results revealed that interpersonal communication among students was in the high category with an average achievement score of 52.86%.There is no significant difference in interpersonal communication between male and female students. The role of guidance and counseling teachers is very necessary to help develop students' interpersonal communication through information services, individual counseling services, and group guidance services for guidance and counseling teachers or school counselors in order to improve students' interpersonal communication.

Characterizing social communication among minimally verbal children with autism: An application of item response theory.

Minimally verbal children constitute a portion of the autism spectrum. The paucity of proper measurement tools that sensitively and accurately assess behaviors has been one limiting factor in the improved knowledge of these children. Short of creating and validating a new measurement tool for this subpopulation, this study took an alternative and more immediate approach: conduct a secondary data analysis and examine an existing social communication measure, the Early Social Communication Scales (ESCS), with item response theory. The final sample consisted of 453 minimally verbal children culled from four different completed studies. The IRT models analyzed the frequency of social communication gestures from the ESCS and returned an objective difficulty hierarchy regarding initiations of joint attention and behavior regulation gestures. The best-fitting and final model was a zero-inflated negative binomial model (ZINBM), which determined that joint attention gestures were, on average, more difficult than behavior regulation gestures. Joint attentional shows and gives were essentially absent in the children's repertoire, and behavior regulation reaches were the easiest gestures for this sample. The ZINBM separately modeled children with some gestures and children who did not present with any gestures and determined that behavior regulation reaches and gives were likely the first gestures a child will eventually exhibit among children with no gestures. Methodological contributions and potential future applications of IRT are discussed.

Social disparities in access and quality of consultation in outpatient care in Germany

BackgroundOverall, research on social determinants of access and quality of outpatient care in Germany is scarce. Therefore, social disparities (according to sex, age, income, migration background, and health insurance) in perceived access and quality of consultation in outpatient care (primary care physicians and specialists) in Germany were explored in this study.MethodsAnalyses made use of a cross-sectional online survey. An adult population sample was randomly drawn from a panel which was recruited offline (N = 2,201). Perceived access was assessed by waiting time for an appointment (in days) and travel time to the practice (in minutes), while quality of consultation was measured by consultation time (in minutes) and quality of communication (scale of four items, Cronbach’s Alpha 0.89).ResultsIn terms of primary care, perceived access and quality of consultation was worse among women compared to men. Estimated consultation time was shorter among people with statutory health insurance compared to privately insured respondents. Regarding specialist care, people aged 60 years and older reported shorter waiting times and better quality of communication. Lower income groups reported lower quality of communication, while perceived access and quality of consultation was worse among respondents with a statutory health insurance. Variances explained by the social characteristics ranged between 1% and 4% for perceived access and between 3% and 7% for quality of consultation.ConclusionWe found social disparities in perceived access and quality of consultation in outpatient care in Germany. Such disparities in access may indicate structural discrimination, while disparities in quality of consultation may point to interpersonal discrimination in health care.

Development and validation of a patient-centered communication scale for nurses

BackgroundPatient-centered care aims to prevent disease and promote well-being by actively involving patients in treatment and decision-making that is based on respecting the patients and their families. However, no scales have been developed to assess patient-centered care from the nurse’s perspective. This study aimed to develop a scale to measure nurses’ level of patient-centered communication and confirm its validity and reliability.MethodsA methodological cross-sectional study was adopted to develop and validate the Patient-Centered Communication Scale (PCCS). The items were developed through a literature review and online interviews with nurses. Content validity was assessed by experts and the content validity index was calculated. A pretest of the questionnaire was conducted with 10 clinical nurses. To evaluate the factor structure and internal consistency reliability, the PCCS was administered online to 325 nurses in South Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, explanatory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsThe final instrument consisted of 12 items and three factors: (1) information sharing, (2) patient-as-person, and (3) therapeutic alliance. EFA revealed a distinct three-factor structure, explaining 59.0% of the total variance. CFA confirmed the adequacy of the model fit and validated the inclusion of the final items. The Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.60 to 0.77, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Convergent validity was evidenced by the correlation between the PCCS and a measure of interpersonal communication competence.ConclusionsThe 12-item PCCS showed good reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity. The scale has utility for measuring the level of patient-centered communication skills in nurses.

Exploring the Link Between Emotional Intelligence and Compassionate Communication in Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The main purposes of the nursing profession are to protect and improve health and to prevent and heal diseases. It is crucial to investigate the factors that can influence nurses' ability to enhance their performance in their professional lives and conduct the nursing care process more qualitatively and effectively. This study aimed to examine the association between emotional intelligence and compassionate communication in nurses. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 140 nurses working in various units of the public hospital in Kilis, Turkey. Data were collected through a demographic information form, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Compassionate Communication Scale. It was determined that nurses' emotional intelligence and compassionate communication were above average. A significant association was found between nurses' emotional intelligence and compassionate communication (F = 16.08, P < .001) and emotional intelligence explains 10% of the variance in compassionate communication (R = 0.323, R2 = 0.104). Emotional intelligence and compassionate communication should be taken into consideration so that nurses can recognize and understand patients' emotions, alleviate their hurt, and deliver delicate, kind, and compassionate care.

Psychometric evaluation of the german version of the parent-adolescent communication scale.

The quality of dyadic Parent-Child Communication (PCC) between parents and their adolescent children may be important for the adolescent's general development and mental health during adolescence. Since German instruments for measuring PCC are still lacking, this study aimed to validate the German translation of the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PACS), an internationally established self-report questionnaire. To examine the theoretical-based two-factor model of the PACS in a German population sample of 1044 parent-adolescent dyads, confirmatory factor analyses were used. Moreover, the cross-group measurement invariance of the instrument was assessed. Two clinical samples were used to assess discriminative validity. Bland-Altman plots were used to asses parent-adolescent agreement. The two-factor structure of the PACS was supported. Scalar measurement invariance was established for parent age groups and adolescent gender but not for adolescent age groups and parent gender. Convergent and divergent validity were established. Discriminative validity was only established for the adolescent version in the adolescent psychiatry sample. Test-retest reliability was satisfactory, and rater agreement was medium. The German translation of the PACS is a reliable and valid measurement to assess parent-adolescent communication quality per self-report. Research directions include the concordance discrepancy in clinical samples and further investigation of changes in parents' and adolescents' perspectives on communication problems and open communication. Registration: NCT05332236 (clinicaltrials.gov), first registered 2022-04-11.

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Couples’ Financial Communication Scale: Findings and Implications from Two Large, Diverse Samples

AbstractCommunicating about finances is essential to develop shared meaning and goals within couple relationships. When couples struggle to discuss finances, they can experience poor couple outcomes. For researchers and clinicians to effectively study and promote healthy couple communication patterns regarding finances, a parsimonious, reliable, and valid measure of couples’ financial communication is needed. This study examined the psychometric utility of the 5-item Couples’ Financial Communication Scale (originally developed for the Flourishing Families Project; Day, R. D., Bean, R., Coyne, S., Dyer, J., Harper, J., &amp; Walker, L. (2017). Flourishing families project: Survey of family life [codebook].) using two large, diverse samples—one of emerging adult individuals in a romantic relationship (N = 1,950) and another of dyads in a romantic relationship (N = 1,252; 69.9% beyond emerging adulthood). Similar findings emerged across both samples. Inter-item correlations, skewness, and kurtosis of the five items were within acceptable ranges. The five items loaded onto a latent construct with robust standardized factor loadings (ranging from 0.63 to 0.90) and sound model fit. Cronbach’s alpha revealed sound reliability (α = between 0.85 and 0.89). Multiple tests of measurement equivalence suggest the measure appears to be reasonably useful across theoretically meaningful groups (gender, age, income, marital status, and joint banking behaviors). Couples’ financial communication and couples’ relationship quality were positively correlated with large effect sizes—showing initial evidence of predictive validity. The parsimonious Couples’ Financial Communication Scale has sound evidence of reliability, validity, and measurement equivalence across two diverse samples, which positions it to be a useful measure in future scholarship to assess the degree to which couples engage in ongoing healthy and cooperative financial communication.