Validation of the German version of the work and social adjustment scale in a sample of depressed patients

Abstract Background Depression is one of the key factors contributing to difficulties in one’s ability to work, and serves as one of the major reasons why employees apply for psychotherapy and receive insurance subsidization of treatments. Hence, an increasing and growing number of studies rely on workability assessment scales as their primary outcome measure. The Work and Social Assessment Scale (WSAS) has been documented as one of the most psychometrically reliable and valid tools especially developed to assess workability and social functioning in patients with mental health problems. Yet, the application of the WSAS in Germany has been limited due to the paucity of a valid questionnaire in the German language. The objective of the present study was to translate the WSAS, as a brief and easy administrable tool into German and test its psychometric properties in a sample of adults with depression. Methods Two hundred seventy-seven patients (M = 48.3 years, SD = 11.1) with mild to moderately severe depression were recruited. A multistep translation from English into the German language was performed and the factorial validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects were examined. Results The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the one-factor structure of the WSAS. Significant correlations with the WHODAS 2–0 questionnaire, a measure of functionality, demonstrated good convergent validity. Significant correlations with depression and quality of life demonstrated good criterion validity. The WSAS also demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = .89), and the absence of floor and ceiling effects indicated good sensitivity of the instrument. Conclusions The results of the present study demonstrated that the German version of the WSAS has good psychometric properties comparable to other international versions of this scale. The findings recommend a global assessment of psychosocial functioning with the sum score of the WSAS. Trial registration ISRCTN identifier: ISRCTN28972230. Date of registration June 26th 2018.

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Validation of the German Version of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale in a Sample of Depressed Patients

10.21203/rs.3.rs-151437/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andreas Heissel ◽

Julian Bollmann ◽

Maria Kangas ◽

Kahar Abula ◽

Michael Rapp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Social Adjustment ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Severe Depression ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

German Language ◽

German Version ◽

Ceiling Effects

Abstract Background: Depression is one of the key factors contributing to difficulties in one’s ability to work, and serves as one of the major reasons why employees apply for psychotherapy and receive insurance subsidization of treatments. Hence, an increasing and growing number of studies rely on workability assessment scales as their primary outcome measure. The Work and Social Assessment Scale (WSAS) has been documented as one of the most psychometrically reliable and valid tools to serve that purpose. Yet, the application of the WSAS in Germany has been limited due to the paucity of a valid questionnaire in the German language. The objective of the present study was to translate the WSAS into German and test its psychometric properties in a sample of adults with depression. Methods: 277 patients (M = 48.3 years, SD =11.1) with mild to moderately severe depression were recruited. A multistep translation from English into the German language was performed and the factorial validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects were examined. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the one-factor structure of the WSAS. Significant correlations with the WHODAS 2-0 questionnaire, a measure of functionality, demonstrated good convergent validity. Significant correlations with depression and quality of life demonstrated good criterion validity. The WSAS also demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = .89), and the absence of floor and ceiling effects indicated good sensitivity of the instrument. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated that the German version of the WSAS has good psychometric properties comparable to other international versions of this scale. The findings recommend a global assessment of psychosocial functioning with the sum score of the WSAS, but also suggest the interpretation of the individual items to improve treatment and the concomitant research.Trial registration ISRCTN identifier: ISRCTN28972230. Date of registration June 26th 2018.

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Development and Evaluation of a Swedish Short Version of the Questionnaire About the Process of Recovery (QPR)

Community Mental Health Journal ◽

10.1007/s10597-019-00494-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 376-382

Author(s):

Eklund Mona ◽

Neil Sandra ◽

Argentzell Elisabeth

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Short Version ◽

Level Of Functioning ◽

Ceiling Effects ◽

Good Internal Consistency

Abstract The aim was to develop a short version of the Swedish Process of Recovery Questionnaire (QPR-Swe) for use with people with severe mental illness and to investigate its internal consistency, construct validity, known-groups validity and any floor or ceiling effects. Two independent samples were used, the first (N = 226) to develop the short version and the second (N = 266) to test its psychometric properties. A seven-item version was developed by selecting items based on item-total correlations. The QPR-Swe-7 showed good internal consistency reliability (α = 0.82). It showed moderate correlations with indicators of convergent validity (self-rated health, self-mastery and quality of life) and weak with those selected to test discriminant validity (psychiatric symptoms and level of functioning). QPR-Swe-7 differentiated between people receiving two different levels of housing support. No floor or ceiling effects were found. The QPR-Swe-7 had appropriate psychometric properties for use with people with a variety of mental disorders when a brief scale is warranted.

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Psychometric properties of the German version of the Depressive and Anxious Avoidance in Prolonged Grief Questionnaire (DAAPGQ)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0254959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0254959

Author(s):

Julia Treml ◽

Michaela Nagl ◽

Elmar Braehler ◽

Paul A. Boelen ◽

Anette Kersting

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Latent Variables ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Factor Model ◽

German Language ◽

German Version ◽

Prolonged Grief

The Depressive and Anxious Avoidance in Prolonged Grief Questionnaire (DAAPGQ) was developed to measure depressive and anxious avoidance behaviors, which, according to cognitive-behavioral models, are supposed to play an important role in the development and maintenance of prolonged grief. The present study aimed to develop a German version of the DAAPGQ and evaluate its psychometric properties and validity within a representative sample of the German general population (N = 2531). The German-language DAAPGQ was developed using a forward-backward translation procedure. Then, a subsample of individuals who reported having lost a significant other (N = 1371) of a representative sample was assessed with the German DAAPGQ, along with information on sociodemographic characteristics, prolonged grief symptom severity (PG-13), general anxiety (GAD-2) and depression (PHQ-2). The factor structure of the DAAPGQ was evaluated using confirmatory factor analyses, reliability by calculating internal consistency on subscale level and convergent validity by correlations between DAAPQG subscale sores with PG-13, GAD-2 and PHQ-2 sum scores. As expected, a two-factor model with correlated latent variables showed good fit to the data, replicating findings from the original version. Internal consistency was high for both subscales (Cronbach’s α .86 and .95, respectively). Convergent validity was established by theoretically expected and statistically significant positive correlations of DAAPGQ subscales with symptom severity of prolonged grief, depression, and anxiety and negative correlations with time since loss. Furthermore, the addition of depressive and anxious avoidance significantly improved the prediction of prolonged grief symptom severity over sociodemographic and loss-related information. In sum, our results suggest that the German-language DAAPGQ is a reliable and valid measure of depressive and anxious avoidance and a useful tool to improve our knowledge on the role of avoidance in prolonged grief. We also provide descriptive data to improve the applicability of the DAAPGQ for individual diagnostics.

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Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship in Community Mental Health Care (D-STAR)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000105 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 255-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sabine Loos ◽

Reinhold Kilian ◽

Thomas Becker ◽

Birgit Janssen ◽

Harald Freyberger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Community Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Therapeutic Relationship ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Community Mental Health Care ◽

German Version

Objective: There are presently no instruments available in German language to assess the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric care. This study validates the German version of the Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship in Community Mental Health Care (D-STAR). Method: 460 persons with severe mental illness and 154 clinicians who had participated in a multicenter RCT testing a discharge planning intervention completed the D-STAR. Psychometric properties were established via item analysis, analyses of missing values, internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis. Furthermore, convergent validity was scrutinized via calculating correlations of the D-STAR scales with two measures of treatment satisfaction. Results: As in the original English version, fit indices of a 3-factor model of the therapeutic relationship were only moderate. However, the feasibility and internal consistency of the D-STAR was good, and correlations with other measures suggested reasonable convergent validity. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the D-STAR are acceptable. Its use can be recommended in German-speaking countries to assess the therapeutic relationship in both routine care and research.

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Psychometric Properties of the Multi-Affect Indicator in a Chinese Worker Sample

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294116676464 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 120 (1) ◽

pp. 179-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hui Li ◽

Yue Zhang ◽

Feng Li

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Full Time ◽

Chinese Sample ◽

High Internal Consistency ◽

Four Quadrant ◽

Affect At Work ◽

Composite Reliability

The Multi-Affect Indicator is a new measure that assesses the core affect at work with 16 items. The current study examined the scale’s psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and composite reliability, factorial validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity with a Chinese sample of 370 full-time workers. The results demonstrated that Multi-Affect Indicator has high internal consistency and composite reliability and a correlated four-quadrant structure. Furthermore, three of its four subscales show adequate convergent validity. Thus, the Chinese version of the Multi-Affect Indicator behaves consistently with the original and can be used in future studies of core workplace affect in Chinese context.

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Psychometric properties of the German Version of the Psychological Consequences of Screening Questionnaire (PCQ)

10.21203/rs.3.rs-120430/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Urs Alexander Fichtner ◽

Andy Maun ◽

Erik Farin-Glattacker

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Short Form ◽

Scale Structure ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

German Version ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Study Results ◽

Cancer Setting

Abstract Background: This study aimed to translate the negative and positive items of the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire (PCQ) into German, to adapt this version to the context of screening for cirrhosis of the liver, and to test its psychometric properties. Methods: The three subscales (physical, emotional, and social) were translated into German using a forward-backward translation method. Furthermore, we adapted the wording to the context of liver diseases. We tested the acceptability, distribution properties, internal consistency, scale structure, and the convergent validity using an analysis sample of 443 patients who were screened for cirrhosis or fibrosis of the liver. Results: We found low non-response and non-unique answer rates on the PCQ items in general. However, positive items had higher non-response rates. All items showed strong floor effects. Cronbach’s alpha was high for both the negative (α = 0.95) and the positive PCQ scale (α = 0.90), as well as for the total PCQ scale (α = 0.90). Confirmatory factor analysis could reproduce the three dimensions that the PCQ intends to measure. However, it suggests not summing up a total PCQ score and instead treat the subscales separately. Convergent validity with the short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y-6) was acceptable. Conclusions: Overall, our study results report a successful adaptation of the German PCQ with good performance in terms of acceptability, internal consistency, scale structure, and convergent validity. We could demonstrate that the German version of the PCQ is a useful and well-performing measurement for both negative and positive screening consequences, even in a non-cancer setting.

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Psychometric properties of the Headache Under-Response to Treatment (HURT) questionnaire and the Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS) translated to Serbian

Vojnosanitetski pregled ◽

10.2298/vsp171002022z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (11) ◽

pp. 1162-1168 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Radica Zivkovic-Zaric ◽

Slobodan Jankovic ◽

Éva Csépány ◽

Tamás Gyüre ◽

Csaba Ertsey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Disability Assessment ◽

Related Quality ◽

Type Headache ◽

Hurt Questionnaire

Background/Aim. The Headache Under-Response to Treatment (HURT) questionnaire and the Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS), which are intended for assessing the headache-related disability, impact (MIDAS) and management (HURT), were not yet translated to Serbian and validated in the population of Serbia. The aim of this study was to translate the HURT and MIDAS from English to Serbian, to make necessary cultural adaptations and to test their psychometric properties in a sample of outpatients with the headache. Methods. The HURT and MIDAS questionnaires were translated and adapted according to the internationally accepted guidelines, and then tested on a sample of Serbian patients with various headache types. Internal consistency was checked through the calculation of Cronbach?s alpha for the questionnaires, and by correlation of each question with the corrected total score. The criterion validity of the translation was tested by correlating scores of individual items, domains and whole questionnaire with the headache characteristics (severity, duration, frequency), and convergent validity was tested by correlating the abovementioned scores with results of an instrument for measurement of headache-related quality of life. Results. There were 171 (79.2%) females and 45 (20.8%) male study participants. The mean age of the patients was 42.3 years, (standard deviation ? SD 13.35; range 18?75); 27 (12.5%) suffered from a migraine and 189 (87.5%) from the episodic tension-type headache (TTH). The Serbian translation of HURT and MIDAS questionneires showed excellent internal consistency, with high values of the Cronbach?s alpha: 0.764 and 0.731, respectively. The validity of the instruments in all aspects (criterion, convergent and discriminant validity) was also excellent for the whole sample and for the subgroup of patients with TTH, while the results for the patients with the migraine were less favorable. The factor analysis suggested the existence of one domain of MIDAS and two domains of HURT questionneires. Conclusion. The Serbian translations of HURT and MIDAS could be used as the reliable and valid specific instruments for measuring a headache-related disability, impact (MIDAS) and management (HURT) in the patients with TTH and probably in the patients with the migraine.

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Development of 7-Item Perceived Meaning of Activity in Housing (PMA-H-7) to Assess Opportunities for Meaningful Activities in the Supported Housing Context for People With Psychiatric Disabilities

Evaluation & the Health Professions ◽

10.1177/0163278719845036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 230-234

Author(s):

Mona Eklund ◽

David Brunt

Keyword(s):

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Supported Housing ◽

Psychiatric Disabilities ◽

Data Sets ◽

Meaningful Activity ◽

Two Samples ◽

Ceiling Effects

People with psychiatric disabilities need to be able to express their views about their support, for example, the provision of meaningful activity in supported accommodation. Brief scales may be necessary to avoid strain and discomfort for this group. The aim was to develop a brief version of Perceived Meaning in Activity—Housing (PMA-H) and investigate its factor structure, internal consistency, evidence for convergent and discriminant validity, and any floor or ceiling effects. Two data sets from people with psychiatric disabilities living in congregate supported housing were reanalyzed. Seven-item PMA-H-7 was developed in Sample 1 and then tested for psychometric properties in Samples 1 ( n = 155) and 2 ( N = 35). Questionnaires addressing phenomena supposed to be similar to PMA (satisfaction with accommodation), or dissimilar (health, psychiatric symptoms, level of functioning), were administered. A single factor explained 44% of the variation in PMA-H-7. Internal consistency was α = .74/.75 in the two samples. Correlations of r s = .47/.52 with housing satisfaction indicated convergent validity. Low and insignificant associations were found for the remaining variables, supporting discriminant validity. No floor or ceiling effects were identified. PMA-H-7 showed adequate psychometric samples for use with people with psychiatric disabilities in assessing opportunities for meaningful activity in the supported housing context.

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Psychometric Properties of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Instrument in Brazilian College Students

Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto) ◽

10.1590/1982-4327e3006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

Author(s):

Celina Aparecida Gonçalves Lima ◽

Maria de Fatima Matos Maia ◽

Maria Fernanda Santos Figueiredo Brito ◽

Lucineia de Pinho ◽

Marise Fagundes Silveira

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Risk Behavior ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

Youth Risk Behavior Survey ◽

Youth Risk Behavior

Abstract Considering the importance of health risk behaviors (HRB) and the need for reliable instruments to evaluate them, this study was designed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the items of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in a sample of 902 college students. Convergent validity, criterion, internal consistency, and temporal stability were evaluated. Higher correlations were observed between use of other drugs and use of marijuana (ρ = 0.537), and alcohol consumption and tobacco use (ρ = 0.418). Criterion validity was observed, with significant differences between domain scores according to gender. Adequate internal consistency, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.770 for overall scale. Most of the domains (82%) showed intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.75 and 64.1% of the items showed kappa ≥ 0.60. The instrument seems to have indicators of criterion validity, internal consistency and temporal stability with satisfactory levels. We recommend that HRB assessment using YRBS should be performed separately on each domain.

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Examining the dimensions of employee safety behavior: Validation from the microfinance sector of Pakistan

International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES ◽

10.21833/ijaas.2021.02.003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 17-21

Author(s):

Hira Rani Shaikh ◽

◽

Syed Mir Mohammad Shah ◽

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Dynamic Phenomenon ◽

Safety Behavior ◽

Theoretical Rationale ◽

Employee Safety

Employee safety behavior is a dynamic phenomenon that takes place in every organization where employee’s concerns are taken for granted. Organizations and their respective authority are in search of ways to reduce the magnitude of such behavior by counseling employees. Research scholars play an important role in understanding and developing employee safety behavior. In this regard, specifically for assessing the way and magnitude of employee safety behavior (ESB), researchers have developed a tool to measure it. For achieving such an objective, researchers theoretically proposed the indicators to measure employee safety behavior effectively. These behaviors were: Avoidance and aggression coded as SBAV (safety behavior for avoidance) and SBAG (safety behavior for aggression). The present study strengthens the theoretical rationale of previous studies and validated the psychometric properties of employee safety behavior in the Pakistani context. 400 employees from 11 branches situated in different regions were surveyed, and data was analyzed using SMART PLS 3.0–software prominent due to its methodological usefulness. Findings illustrated that instrument satisfaction met the criteria of internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity for both ESB dimensions. Findings clearly demonstrated that the ESB scale is effective enough in measuring employee safety behavior in the microfinance sector of Sindh, Pakistan. Hence, Future researchers are recommended to use this tool in measuring employee safety behavior in developing countries, specifically in Pakistan.

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