Stable Factor Structure Research Articles

An examination of the factor structure of the Elemental Psychopathy Assessment.

The Elemental Psychopathy Assessment (EPA) is a self-report measure designed to assess the basic elements of psychopathy from a Five-Factor Model perspective. Using two large undergraduate samples, the aim of the current study was to further validate this new measure by examining its factor structure and the relations of the factors with established psychopathy measures and externalizing behaviors (Sample 2 only). Exploratory factor analytic results were highly consistent across the two samples and generated a four-factor structure characterized by Antagonism, Emotional Stability, Disinhibition, and Narcissism. These factors converged as expected with factors from alternative self-report conceptualizations of psychopathy and externalizing behaviors. The EPA factors also provided incremental validity in the prediction of the alternative psychopathy measures and externalizing behaviors above and beyond the other psychopathy measures. The stable factor structure and relations with constructs relevant to the study of psychopathy provide further support for the EPA as a stand-alone, comprehensive assessment of psychopathic personality.

The construct validity of the Restraint Scale among mainland Chinese women

This study aimed to test the construct validity of the newly developed Chinese version of the Revised Restraint Scale (RRS) in two separate female samples from Chinese universities (n1=171; n2=158). The RRS is the most widely used measure of restricted eating for the purpose of achieving or maintaining a desired weight. Results showed that the 10-item Chinese RRS comprised of two subscales of concern dieting (CD) and weight fluctuation (WF), which together accounted for 53.01% of the total variance. Confirmative factor analysis supported this two-factor model as an acceptable model (χ2/df=1.545, p<0.001; RMSEA=0.059, GFI=0.938, and CFI=0.935). Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.77 for RRS, 0.71 for CD and 0.66 for WF. Significant correlations were shown between RRS and its subscales (rRRS-CD=0.894, p<0.01; rRRS-WF=0.850, p<0.01; rCD-WF=0.523, p<0.01). Moreover, RS significantly correlated with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R (TFEQ-R), the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire-R (DEBQ-R), the Fatness Concern (FC) and the body measure index (BMI) (r=0.548, p<0.01; r=0.631, p<0.01; r=0.620, p<0.01; r=0.351, p<0.01, respectively). In sum, the RS has stable factor structure, acceptable internal consistency and satisfactory convergent reliability among female Chinese college students. The adapted scale may serve as a useful tool for identifying restrained and unrestrained eaters among Chinese women and may be particularly useful in assessing eating restraint before and after prevention and intervention programs.

Factorial Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Sensation Seeking Scale – Form V (SSS-V) in a Sample of Italian Adolescents

The present study was designed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Sensation Seeking Scale – Form V (SSS-V) for the Italian-speaking population. The instrument was administered to 1,530 high school and college students. A second group of 268 high school students completed the SSS-V and the Impulsiveness Questionnaire (IVE). Exploratory factor analysis highlighted a 2-factor structure, Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) and Disinhibition (Dis). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed an adequate model fit. Internal consistency of the subscales was marginally supported using the alpha reliability measure. Convergent validity was supported by significant positive correlations between Venturesomeness IVE subscale and both TAS and Dis. As a proof of discriminant validity, Impulsiveness was found to be not related to TAS and lowly correlated to Dis. Our results corroborated the outcomes of many previous studies suggesting the need to test the SSS-V degree of factor invariance and factor structure stability. Further analyses involving independent samples are required to confirm the present findings.

Assessing a Norwegian Translation of the Organizational Climate Measure

This study investigated the Norwegian translation of the Organizational Climate Measure developed by Patterson and colleagues. The Organizational Climate Measure is a global measure of organizational climate based on Quinn and Rohrbaugh's competing values model. The survey was administered to a Norwegian branch of an international service sector company (N = 555). The results revealed satisfactory internal reliability and interrater agreement for the 17 scales, and confirmatory factor analysis supported the original factor structure. The findings gave preliminary support for the Organizational Climate Measure as a reliable measure with a stable factor structure, and indicated that it is potentially useful in the Norwegian context.

Validation of a Modified CD-RISC

Background. Resilience is considered as the capacity to overcome adversity. Identifying psychiatric patients with lower resilience scores may assist mental health or other healthcare professionals in tailoring treatment to patients’ needs. The original 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) has been used widely to measure resilience. However, the factor structure of CD-RISC in the original paper has not been replicated in subsequent studies. We sought to modify the original 25-item CD-RISC to achieve a stable factor structure. Methods. The original 25-item CD-RISC was modified to include three new items, and most original items were revised for clarity and relevance for respondents, to achieve a more precise and accurate response. A few items were deleted based on empirically driven modifications. A total of 266 respondents were obtained from a university-based psychiatric outpatient clinic and hospital psychiatric outpatient clinic. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Results. A four-dimension factor structure was identified using this data set. One item, “have to act on hunch” was deleted from the factor analysis due to weak correlation with the other variables. The instrument had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.94). Conclusions. The modified 27-item CD-RISC achieved a stable factor structure and high internal consistency, and generated a more interpretable result than the original CD-RISC.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Virtues Questionnaire

Objectives: The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese Virtues Questionnaire (CVQ). The reliability, factor structure, construct validity, and temporal stability of the inventory were examined. Method: A university student sample ( n = 878) and a working adult sample ( n = 153) were recruited. Participants were asked to complete the paper-and-pencil CVQ and a set of questionnaires to measure both their positive and negative psychological status. Results: The results supported the three-factor structure of the CVQ established earlier. Factorial invariants were found in different subsamples (students vs. workers; male vs. female). Each factor (interpersonal, vitality, and cautiousness) demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (α = .87 to .92), test–retest reliability ( r = .70 to .76), convergent validity, discriminant validity, incremental validity, temporal stability, and theoretical significance. Conclusions: The questionnaire with good psychometric characteristics and solid cultural foundations can facilitate positive social work assessment and intervention.

The Reasoning and Regulating Medication Adherence Instrument for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Development and Psychometric Evaluation

Many patients experience difficulty taking medications resulting in suboptimal adherence. Ambiguity surrounding adherence issues in chronic illness has been exacerbated by a lack of patient-centered, medication-specific, and theoretically integrative measurement instruments. To develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure the factors that influence adherence in patients prescribed pharmacotherapy for coronary artery disease. Phase 1 involved the development of instrument structure and content. Constructs to be measured were defined through an analysis of adherence literature and qualitative interviews with patients. Phase 2 established the psychometric properties of the instrument. Exploratory factor analyses, reliability, and validity estimations were undertaken with a sample of patients (n = 404) from 3 tertiary cardiology referral centers. Factor analyses resulted in a logically coherent, 16-item, three-factor solution that explained 50.5% variance. The factors were labelled: "Medication Planning Strategies," "Health Risk, and Health Protection." Internal consistency reliability met acceptable standards (alpha = .700 to alpha = .785). Fair to excellent intraclass correlations for temporal stability were demonstrated (.498-.882). Preliminary construct validity was supported by promising findings in relation to content validity results and factor structure stability. A new adherence instrument for patients on pharmacotherapy for coronary artery disease has been developed and initial psychometric properties have been established. Additional instrument validation will be directed at further establishing construct and criterion-related validity. It is intended that this measure will be useful in identifying factors that impede or facilitate adherent behavior and contribute to advancing the science of instrument development within adherence research.

Adaptação e validação da Escala de Liderança Carismática Socializada

OBJETIVO: Adaptar a escala Charismatic Leadership Socialized Scale à cultura brasileira e avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da versão traduzida e adaptada. MÉTODOS: A escala traduzida e adaptada foi respondida por 211 profissionais da equipe de enfermagem. Utilizou-se o programa SPSS, onde foram verificados os componentes principais e as cargas fatoriais de cada item nas subescalas pelo Método dos Componentes Principais e teste de rotação Varimax, e a consistência interna das subescalas pelo cálculo do índice alfa de Cronbach. Também se comparou as médias dos grupos em cada escala pela análise de variância one-way (ANOVA), verificando-se a significância das diferenças pelo teste de Tukey. RESULTADOS: A escala apresentou consistentes propriedades psicométricas convergentes a uma estrutura estável do fator e confiabilidade adequada muito próxima ao estudo original. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados reforçam as qualidades psicométricas da escala, indicando sua aplicabilidade para pesquisas no contexto hospitalar nacional.

Spanish version of the Positive Expectancies for Drinking and Driving for Youth

In most developed countries, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death among young people, and a large proportion of motor vehicle accidents are alcohol-related. In Spain there are no currently available instruments for assessing positive expectancies related to drinking and driving behavior. Attempting to modify these expectancies may be an effective prevention approach, so there is a need for a valid and reliable scale to measure the construct. The aims of the present study were to translate, culturally adapt, and examine the psychometric properties of a Spanish-language version of the Positive Expectancies for Drinking and Driving for Youth (PEDD-Y) in a sample of Spanish young adults. A total of 352 college students with drivers licenses were recruited at a university in southeast Spain. We examined the factor structure, psychometric properties (reliability and validity) and temporal stability of the Spanish version of the PEDD-Y among Spanish young adult drivers. Findings indicated that the Spanish version of the PEDD-Y demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and was shown to significantly predict lifetime prevalence and future intentions to drink and drive as well as riding with a drunk driver. The Convenience factor performed with the most consistent reliability and predictive validity. Limitations and future research questions are discussed.

Measuring cognitive and affective constructs in the context of an acute health event

The latest recommendations for building dynamic health behavior theories emphasize that cognitions, emotions, and behaviors – and the nature of their inter-relationships – can change over time. This paper describes the development and psychometric validation of four scales created to measure smoking-related causal attributions, perceived illness severity, event-related emotions, and intention to quit smoking among patients experiencing acute cardiac symptoms. After completing qualitative work with a sample of 50 cardiac patients, we administered the scales to 300 patients presenting to the emergency department for cardiac-related symptoms. Factor analyses, alpha coefficients, ANOVAs, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to establish the scales' reliability and validity. Factor analyses revealed a stable factor structures for each of the four constructs. The scales were internally consistent, with the majority having an alpha of >0.80 (range: 0.57–0.89). Mean differences in ratings of the perceived illness severity and event-related emotions were noted across the three time anchors. Significant increases in intention to quit at the time of enrollment, compared to retrospective ratings of intention to quit before the event, provide preliminary support for the sensitivity of this measure to the motivating impact of the event. Finally, smoking-related causal attributions, perceived illness severity, and event-related emotions correlated in the expected directions with intention to quit smoking, providing preliminary support for construct validity.

Development and Exploration of the Experiences With Classism Scale

The examination of barriers in relation to college students’ vocational choice and development is an important area of research, but the barrier of classism is relatively underexamined. This may be due to the deficiencies in measurement, so we describe herein the development of a new measure, the Experiences with Classism scale (EWCS). The EWCS was developed to extend prior qualitative work that highlighted the need to consider experiences with classism in the lives of undergraduate students. Results provided initial evidence for the usefulness of the EWCS to measure undergraduate students’ experiences with classism at a personal and systemic level. Across two studies, the EWCS was demonstrated to have high internal consistency reliability, to have a stable factor structure consisting of two factors, to correlate as expected with relevant demographic variables, and to fit within a nomological network of convergent and discriminant constructs. The EWCS was also demonstrated to predict self-reported experiences of depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and psychological wellness. Implications for further research and practice are suggested.

3PLSP scale for co‐operative dairies in Indian context

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring benefits of third party logistics service providers for co‐operative dairies in an Indian context. The objective is to measure benefits of third party logistics service providers for co‐operative dairies.Design/methodology/approachA standard scale development research procedure recommended by experts was followed. First, the literature review of studies to measure benefits of third party logistics was undertaken. Later, Delphi method was used. Interviews were conducted of experts and customers for understanding and generating items for measuring benefits of third party logistics service providers for co‐operative dairies. A survey was then undertaken first for development of the scale and later for validation purpose.FindingsA reliable and valid scale is developed to measure the five dimensions of benefits of using 3PLSPs for co‐operative dairies: responsiveness, accuracy, customization of service, inventory handling and order processing and information sharing.Research limitations/implicationsThis scale is developed to outsource logistics functions at operational levels in the context of co‐operative dairies in India. So, this scale can be tested for co‐operative dairies of countries other than India. The scale can also be tested where outsourcing of logistics activities is done at operational level, other than co‐operative dairies.Practical implicationsThe proposed scale can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify important benefits to consider in outsourcing operational function of logistics management to 3PLSPs in co‐operative dairies.Originality/valueMost relevant studies about benefits of third party logistics service providers do not have stable factor structure, especially for co‐operative dairies. The new scale fills the gap of the absence of a validated scale to measure benefits of 3PLSPs for co‐operative dairies at operational level.

Symptom clusters in a population-based ambulatory cancer cohort validated using bootstrap methods

BackgroundCluster identification has emerged as a priority for symptom research. Variation in statistical approaches has hampered the identification of common clusters that should be targeted for intervention. The purpose of this study was to identify and validate common symptom clusters in a large population-based cohort of ambulatory cancer subjects. MethodsThis descriptive, factor analysis study used bootstrap methods to derive a stable factor structure to identify symptom clusters in a population-based sample of cancer patients. Subjects were identified from a provincial symptom database and linked to other provincial databases. Symptom clusters were validated using confirmatory factor analysis in a randomly selected portion of the sample and model fit examined using common goodness of fit criteria. ResultsThe cluster cohort included 14,247 subjects. Three symptom clusters were identified: fatigue-sickness symptoms (tiredness, nausea, drowsiness and shortness of breath), emotional distress (depression and anxiety), and a poor sense of well-being (appetite and well-being). These clusters were stable across most sub-populations in the cohort. ConclusionThe identification of common symptom clusters using robust statistical methods will help to yield targets to improve symptom management and identify populations at risk for worse disease outcomes.

Psychometric properties of Yelland and Tiggemann's Drive for Muscularity Scale

The purpose of the current study was to examine the dimensionality and validity of Yelland and Tiggemann's Drive for Muscularity Scale (YT-DMS). Participants were college students (305 women, MAGE=20.15 years, SD=4.00; 356 men, MAGE=20.24 years, SD=3.85) who completed the YT-DMS, the Drive for Muscularity Attitudes Questionnaire, the Drive for Leanness Scale, the Drive for Thinness Scale, and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Results indicated the YT-DMS had a stable unidimensional factor structure in both genders, and the pattern of relationships generally supported the measure's criterion and construct validity. These results reveal the YT-DMS has promise, but helps identify possible areas for improvement, such as a greater focus on sampling the content domain associated with the drive for muscularity.

Development and Validation of the Shy Bladder Scale

Paruresis, characterized by the difficulty or inability to urinate in a variety of social contexts, is a scientifically under-studied phenomenon. One reason for this state of affairs is the paucity of reliable and valid measures for assessing this problem. The present article attempted to address this limitation by investigating the psychometric properties and validity of a new measure of paruresis: the Shy Bladder Scale (SBS). In two undergraduate samples, the SBS demonstrated excellent internal consistency and a stable factor structure assessing difficulty urinating in public, impairment and distress, and paruresis-related fear of negative evaluation. Undergraduate students evidenced very low levels of paruresis-related concerns. In contrast, SBS scores were markedly elevated among individuals recruited from an online support network who appeared to meet diagnostic criteria for paruresis-specific social phobia. Our findings highlight the SBS's potential utility as a measure of paruresis in clinical and research contexts.

Patients with depression, somatoform disorders, and eating disorders on the stages of change: Validation of a short version of the URICA.

The study aimed at constructing a time-efficient short version of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA), and at exploring differences in the stages of change between patients with depression, somatoform disorders, and eating disorders across the course of therapy. The URICA and diverse outcome measures were administered to 253 patients in early-, middle-, and late stages of inpatient therapy. The factor structure of the short form of the URICA (URICA-S) was excellent as shown by (1) an exploratory factor analysis on a randomized one-half of the sample, (2) a confirmatory factor analysis on the other half of the sample, and (3) a stable factor structure over a 6-week interval. The resulting factors of the URICA-S were called precontemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance. The internal consistencies of the URICA-S factors were sufficient to excellent. Supporting the criterion-related validity, the URICA-S predicted relevant outcome measures. Analyses of variance showed that the ratings on the action and the maintenance factors were differentially associated with outcome in patients with depression, somatoform disorders, and eating disorders. These findings implicate that a disorder-specific combination of action and relapse-prevention-oriented interventions might optimize outcome in inpatients with different psychiatric disorders.

Composición Factorial de una Escala de Autoeficacia en el Ámbito del Trabajo en Equipo y Liderazgo en Universitarios de Ciencias de la Salud

The present study analyses the psychometric properties of the self-efficacy scale applied to teamwork and leadership of university students of health sciences of the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua in Mexico. The scale, designed for this work is a Likert-type survey of 16 items, with a response scale from 0 to 10.The total sample included 524 participants; 202 women and 322 men, all students of health Sciences, with a mean age of 18.60 years. The factor structure of the questionnaire was analyzed through two separate exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Psychometric analysis showed that a two-factorial structure was viable and adequate for the study, giving appropriate indicators of adjustment, reliability and validity. Also, the results of the factor analysis indicated the presence of strong evidence of factor structure stability.

Composición Factorial de una Escala de Autoeficacia en el Ámbito Sociocultural en Universitarios de Ingeniería

The present study analyses the psychometric properties of the self-efficacy scale in the sociocultural ambit on university students of engineering. The total sample comprised 592 participants; 143 female and 449 male students of engineering, with a mean age of 18.5 years. The factor structure of the questionnaire was analyzed through two separate exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Psychometric analysis showed that a two-factorial structure was viable and adequate; with appropriate indicators of adjustment, reliability and validity. In addition, factor analysis conducted with subsamples 1 and 2 indicated the presence of strong evidence of factor structure stability, until proven otherwise.

The Factor Structure of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale in University Students

The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) is a widely used measure of perfectionism. Previous studies of the nature of the factors of the FMPS have resulted in mixed findings and have failed to identify a stable factor structure. This study investigated the factor structure of the FMPS using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), addressing previous methodological limitations. Participants were 6,449 students from two Australian universities. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a five‐factor model and a reduction in variables from 35 to 29 (FMPS‐29). CFA demonstrated goodness of fit of the revised measure. We also compared our model with a number of existing measurement models of perfection and found the proposed model provided a superior fit for this university student population. Support was found for the two second‐order constructs commonly referred to as adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, although there appears to be little benefit in using this model over the first‐order model. Implications of the findings are discussed.

A survey of worries of pregnant women: Reliability and validity of the Greek version of the Cambridge Worry Scale

Objectiveto examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS) and to assess worries during pregnancy. Settingpublic hospital in Athens, Greece. Designa cross sectional study. Participantsone hundred and thirty two pregnant women with a gestational age between 11 and 14 weeks who were booked for antenatal screening. MethodsCWS was ‘forward–backward’ translated from English into Greek. The translated instrument was pilot-tested and administered to a sample of 132 pregnant women. Principal component analysis with promax rotation was used to test the factor structure of CWS. Measures of state-trait anxiety (STAI) and depression (CES-D) were used to assess the convergent validity of CWS. Cronbach's α was used to measure internal consistency of the FPI scales. Findingsresults from exploratory factor analysis suggested the existence of four factors. Therefore, the Greek version replicated the original factor structure. Construct validity was confirmed by computing correlations between the CWS factors and conceptually similar constructions of anxiety, and depression. Internal consistency reliability was satisfactory. The major worries that pregnant women referred to were the possibility that something might be wrong with the baby, the process of giving birth, financial issues and the possibility of miscarriage. Conclusionthe CWS was found to have a relatively stable factor structure and satisfactory reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. CWS may enable researchers and clinicians to apply a reliable measure that focuses on worries during pregnancy.