Measuring Collateral Consequences Among Individuals Registered for a Sexual Offense: Development of the Sexual Offender Collateral Consequences Measure

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107906322110197
Author(s):  
Emma Hamilton ◽  
Delida Sanchez ◽  
Matthew L. Ferrara

Collateral consequences faced by individuals convicted of a sexual offense have been widely referenced in the literature. There is yet to be a systematic examination of collateral consequences affecting individuals, however, due to measurement inconsistencies and the absence of a psychometrically validated instrument. The current study developed and validated a measure of collateral consequences faced by individuals convicted of a sexual offense. Specifically, this study investigated (a) the underlying factor structure of collateral consequences commonly endorsed by individuals convicted of a sexual offense through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) procedures and (b) reliability and validity indicators of the aforementioned scale. Participants were 218 individuals convicted of and registered for a sexual offense in the state of Texas. Study measures included a pool of 66 collateral consequences items in addition to psychological self-report instruments addressing hopelessness, shame, social well-being, and discrimination. EFA results revealed a two-dimensional construct representing collateral consequences affecting areas of social and psychological well-being. The current measure demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. Limitations and future directions of findings are addressed.

2021 ◽  
pp. 073428292110053
Author(s):  
Mahsa Jabbari ◽  
Shahriar Shahidi ◽  
Leili Panaghi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mazaheri ◽  
Eva Oberle

Character strengths are an important foundation for positive development and thriving in adolescence. Most research on character strengths has been conducted with youths in Western cultures. We examined character strengths in relation to positive and negative well-being indicators in a sample of Iranian youths. We investigated the reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA Y-96)—a self-report survey commonly used in Western contexts. Participants were adolescents in Iran ( N = 1,359; 48.5% female; M age = 13.54, SD = 1.00) who completed the VIA Y-96 and questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, positive/negative experiences, depression, anxiety, and stress. We found that reliability coefficients were acceptable for most of the VIA subscales. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as a second-order CFA, supported the construct validity of the Farsi VIA Y-96. Correlations between the character strengths and positive and negative well-being indicators supported convergent validity. Measurement invariance for the VIA Y-96 was established in this study comparing boys’ and girls’ response patterns. Sex and grade level differences were found for some of the subscales. Overall, the Farsi VIA Y-96 had acceptable psychometric properties, suggesting that it can be used in research on character strengths with Iranian youths.


2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah H. Ailey

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) using 27 adolescents with mild mental retardation attending schools in a large metropolitan area. Cronbach's alpha was 0.79 and the test/retest correlation was 0,90 at 10 days to 2 weeks, indicating adequate reliability. Scores on the self-report CDI were compared with scores on an observer-completed inventory of psychopathology filled out by teachers and other staff, the Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis. For female students, statistically significant negative associations were found between scores on the CDI and scores on the Reiss Scales and its depression subscale. Screening adolescents with mental retardation for depression should be an important part of Individualized Educational Plans for school nurses. School staff report should not be the only method of screening for depression in adolescents with mild mental retardation. School nurses may find the CDI useful as a self report screening tool for depression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-291
Author(s):  
Henk P Stulp ◽  
Jurrijn Koelen ◽  
Gerrit G Glas ◽  
Liesbeth Eurelings-Bontekoe

In the context of theistic religions, God representations are an important factor in explaining associations between religion/spirituality and well-being/mental health. Although the limitations of self-report measures of God representations are widely acknowledged, well-validated implicit measures are still unavailable. Therefore, we developed an implicit Attachment to God measure, the Apperception Test God Representations (ATGR). In this study, we examined reliability and validity of an experimental scale based on attachment theory. Seventy-one nonclinical and 74 clinical respondents told stories about 15 cards with images of people. The composite Attachment to God scale is based on scores on two scales that measure dimensions of Attachment to God: God as Safe Haven and God as Secure Base. God as Safe Haven scores are based on two subscales: Asking Support and Receiving Support from God. Several combinations of scores on these latter subscales are used to assess Anxious and Avoidant attachment to God. A final scale, Percentage Secure Base, measures primary appraisal of situations as nonthreatening. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed that the composite Attachment to God scale could be scored reliably. Associations of scores on the ATGR scales and on the explicit Attachment to God Inventory with scores on implicitly and explicitly measured distress partly confirmed the validity of the ATGR scales by demonstrating expected patterns of associations. Avoidant attachment to God seemed to be assessed more validly with the implicit than with the explicit scale. Patients scored more insecure on the composite Attachment to God scale and three subscales than nonpatients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 6999
Author(s):  
Enrique Manzur ◽  
Sergio Olavarrieta

In a classic study, Rushton and colleagues presented a 20-item scale to assess the altruistic behavior of people: the Self-Report Altruism (SRA) scale. This article focuses on the development of a simplified 9-item scale—the 9-SRA scale—describing the entire refinement and validation procedure using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The 9-SRA shows adequate reliability and validity and represents a more parsimonious instrument to assess altruism and for use in empirical studies focused on human and prosocial behavior. The article discusses the advantages and potential applications of the new scale.


2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loretta Secco

Few instruments are available to assess perceptions of competence in the specific maternal role function of infant care provider. This article reports on a methodological study of the development and evaluation of the Infant Care Questionnaire (ICQ), a self-report scale designed to measure the mother’s perceptions of her abilities and competence as an infant care provider. The sample consisted of healthy low-risk primiparous and multiparous mothers (N = 164) of term infants. Principal components factor analysis with a Varimax rotation produced a three factor solution that explained 42% of the total variance. The three factors were Mom&Baby, Emotionality, and Responsiveness with Cronbach alpha coefficients of .86, .79, and .58, respectively. Validity evidence included higher Mom&Baby scores for multiparous mothers, F (1, 139) = 10.78, p = .001; those with greater time in the mothering role, F (2, 138) = 21.78, p = .000; and a significant correlation with the similar Maternal Confidence Scale, r (155) = .48, p = .000. Acquisition of competence was shown in a greater proportion of mothers rated “competent” at five weeks compared with one week postnatal, χ2 (1, N = 156) = 22.77, p = .000. While the ICQ demonstrated adequate reliability and validity, establishment of clinical relevance and appropriateness with other groups is required.


Author(s):  
Liliana Costa ◽  
Everett L. Worthington, Jr. ◽  
Cristina Cavadas Montanha ◽  
Ana Bela Couto ◽  
Carla Cunha

Several studies have suggested that self-forgiveness promotes psychological well-being. The state self-forgiveness scale (SSFS) and the differentiated self-forgiveness process scale (DSFPS) are two self-report questionnaires that assess self-forgiveness in psychotherapy, personal change, and health. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the SSFS and the DSFPS in a Portuguese sample, highlighting reliability and validity properties for scores on both scales. We examine the relationships among self-forgiveness, self-criticism, psychological well-being, and global psychopathological symptoms. The two scales were completed in a random nonclinical sample of 475 University students. The psychological well-being scale was used to explore the relation between self-forgiveness and well-being. Our findings show evidence of a good estimated internal consistency for scores on both scales - SSFS and DSFPS. Self-forgiveness is related to higher indexes of positive feelings (e.g., self-compassion, self-esteem) such as positive behaviors and beliefs about the self. Thus, self-criticism (e.g., hated self) tends to decrease while self-forgiveness feelings and actions, as well as positive feelings of the self (self-compassion; self-love) tends to increase. In clinical practice these are positive indicators, which can lead to personal improvement, as well as positive affect and lower symptomatology (e.g., symptoms of depression).


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barb Toews ◽  
Amy Wagenfeld ◽  
Julie Stevens

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of a short-term nature-based intervention on the social-emotional well-being of women incarcerated on a mental health unit in a state prison. Design/methodology/approach This research used a mixed method approach with individual interviews, a focus group and a visual analog scale (VAS). Findings Qualitative results found that women appreciated the planting party and the way the plants improved the physical environment. Women were also emotionally and relationally impacted by their participation and practiced skills related to planting and working with people. Quantitative results indicate that women were happier, calmer, and more peaceful after the intervention than before. Research limitations/implications Study limitations include sample size, self-report data and use of a scale not yet tested for reliability and validity. Practical implications Findings suggest that nature-based interventions can serve as an adjunct to traditional mental health therapies in correctional settings. Nature-based interventions can support women’s goals to improve their mental health. Social implications Findings suggest that nature-based interventions can serve to improve relationships among incarcerated women, which may make a positive impact on the prison community. Such interventions may also assist them in developing relational and technical skills that are useful upon release. Originality/value To date, there is limited knowledge about the impact of nature-based interventions on incarcerated individuals coping with mental health concerns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes

The objective of this research was to develop and evaluate a self-report measure of subjective well-being (SWB) for use with older adults with hearing loss (HL). A convenience sample of 173 local volunteers between the ages of 60 and 88 years (M = 74.4; SD = 7.2 years) participated in this study. The initial 18-item version of the scale was constructed, response characteristics examined, and then subjected to factor analysis, as well as evaluation of the scales' reliability and validity. The analysis of response characteristics and subsequent factor analysis resulted in the elimination of eight of the 18 test items. The SWB-HL Total score was derived from the 10 remaining items. It was shown that the SWB-HL tapped three underlying domains interpreted as: Life Satisfaction (three items); Acceptance of Hearing Loss (Accept HL; four items); and Social Support (three items). Psychometric analysis showed very good reliability and good criterion validity was established for the 10-item SWB-HL Total score. In addition, significant differences were observed between aided and unaided SWB-HL Total scores following 4–6 weeks of hearing aid use. The SWB-HL is a 10-item self-report measure of SWB that shows good reliability and validity when used by older adults with hearing loss and reveals improved SWB following the use of hearing aids.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252709
Author(s):  
Andrea Bonacchi ◽  
Francesca Chiesi ◽  
Chloe Lau ◽  
Georgia Marunic ◽  
Donald H. Saklofske ◽  
...  

The assessment of well-being remains an important topic for many disciplines including medical, psychological, social, educational, and economic fields. The present study assesses the reliability and validity of a five-item instrument for evaluating physical, psychological, spiritual, relational, and general well-being. This measure uniquely utilizes a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale in which a respondent selects a whole number that best reflects the intensity of the investigated characteristic. In study one, 939 clinical (i.e., diagnosed with cancer and liver disease with cirrhosis) and non-clinical (i.e., undergraduate students and their family and acquaintances) participants between the ages of 18 to 87 years (M = 47.20 years, SD = 19.62, 54% males) were recruited. Results showed items have strong discriminant ability and the spread of threshold parameters attests to the appropriateness of the response categories. Moreover, convergent and discriminant validity were found with other self-report measures (e.g., depression, anxiety, optimism, well-being) and the measure showed responsiveness to two separate interventions for clinical populations. In study two, 287 Canadian (ages ranged from 18 to 30 years; M = 20.78, SD = 3.32; 23% males) and 342 Italian undergraduate psychology students (age ranged from 18 to 29 years, M = 21.21 years, SD = 1.73, 38% males) were recruited to complete self-report questionnaires. IRT-based differential item functioning analyses provided evidence that the item properties were similar for the Italian and English versions of the scale. Additionally, the validity results obtained in study one were replicated and similar relationships between criterion variables were found when comparing the Italian- and the English-speaking samples. Overall, the current study provides evidence that the Italian and English versions of the WB-NRSs offer added value in research focused on well-being and in assessing well-being changes prompted by intervention programs.


Author(s):  
Shigehiro Oishi ◽  
Ed Diener ◽  
Richard E. Lucas

This chapter describes the literature on subjective well-being, or a person’s cognitive and affective evaluations of his or her life as a whole. Researchers have developed reliable and valid self-report measures of subjective well-being. They have also shown that various personality traits are associated with subjective well-being. Significant life events do affect one’s subjective well-being; there are, however, individual variations in the speed with which people adapt to life events. Furthermore, predictors of subjective well-being vary across nations. Several interventions studies have been conducted. Although there are many effective interventions on subjective well-being, it is not yet known whether these interventions last for an extended period of time and work well for most people. Important future directions include the development of reliable and valid non-self-report measures, the effects of life events and societal conditions, and the development of interventions that last for an extended period of time.


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