scholarly journals Evaluation of a short version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-RD8): results from a representative German sample

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes C. Ehrenthal ◽  
Johannes Zimmermann ◽  
Katja Brenk-Franz ◽  
Ulrike Dinger ◽  
Henning Schauenburg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Attachment insecurity is a prominent risk factor for the development and course of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. The Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire is a widely used self-report to assess attachment related anxiety and avoidance. However, its length has the potential to restrict its use in large, multi-instrument studies. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief version of the ECR-R, and provide norm values for the German population. Methods A screening version of the original ECR-R was developed through principal components analysis of datasets from several previous studies. In a representative sample of 2428 randomly selected individuals from the German population, we compared fit indices of different models by means of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). We investigated the convergent validity of the screening version in an independent convenience sample of 557 participants. Correlations between the short and the full scale were investigated in a re-analysis of the original German ECR-R evaluation sample. Results CFA indicated a satisfactory model fit for an eight-item version (ECR-RD8). The ECR-RD8 demonstrated adequate reliability. The subscales correlated as expected with another self-report measure of attachment in an independent sample. Individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety, but especially higher levels of attachment avoidance were significantly more likely to not be in a relationship, across all age groups. Correlations between the short and the full scale were high. Conclusions The ECR-RD8 appears to be a reliable, valid, and economic questionnaire for assessing attachment insecurity. In addition, the reported population-based norm values will help to contextualize future research findings.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ileana Schmalbach ◽  
Bjarne Schmalbach ◽  
Markus Zenger ◽  
Hendrik Berth ◽  
Cornelia Albani ◽  
...  

The Body Image Questionnaire-20 (FKB-20) is one of the most applied self-report measures in the context of body image assessment in German-speaking regions. A version of the FKB-20 capturing an ideal concept of body image is also available. A special property of the scale is its high sensitivity for individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa. The present research provided a short version of this scale (for both variants) and examined its validity in a representative sample (N = 2,347) of the German population. We utilized factor analysis methods to identify the optimal short scale of the measure, finding excellent model fit and reliability for a two-factor model (FKB-6) for both real and ideal body image. Both versions of the FKB-6 can be considered invariant across sex and age groups. Good reliability indices were shown for both versions of the FKB-6. The reliability indices were similar to those mentioned in previous studies. Our study also revealed, that large discrepancies between the real and an ideal body image are correlated with somatic and body dysmorphic symptoms. Finally, we provided norm values for comparisons of individual scores with the general population. The FKB-6 is a valid and a reliable measure that economizes assessments by clinicians and researchers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-S16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Christian ◽  
Martin Sellbom ◽  
Ross B. Wilkinson

In the current investigation, we examined the association between psychopathy and attachment styles in several specific attachment relationships (i.e., romantic, mother, father, friend). Data were collected online from a combination of Australian university and general community samples (N = 729, 53.50% female) using the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (Christian & Sellbom, 2016) and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Structures (Fraley, Heffernan, Vicary, & Brumbaugh, 2011). Our results revealed that specific attachment models tend to have small to moderate associations with the components of psychopathy, but that the strength and direction of these associations tends to differ between figures, components of psychopathy, and dimension of attachment considered. Interestingly, it appeared that peer relationships (i.e., romantic, friend) tended to account for the majority of the variance in the relationship between psychopathy and general attachment styles, which may be an important avenue for future research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S146-S146
Author(s):  
H. Almeida ◽  
A.M. Pisco Almeida ◽  
M. Figueiredo-Braga

IntroductionShared decision-making (SDM) has shown to improve adherence, decrease hospitalization, and enhance knowledge of the illness and satisfaction with mental health services. Eliciting each patient's preferences for information allows tailoring the physician behavior according perspectives and expectations. Patients with depression (PWD) have frequently limited information regarding the availability and efficacy of psychiatric treatments.Aims/objectivesUnveil information seeking attitudes of patients with depression and their a priori use of digital sources of information.MethodsA convenience sample of PWD was submitted to a battery of self-report questionnaires. Standardized instruments were used to measure information seeking attitudes and the accessibility and usage of digital information resources.ResultsThirty-six patients were inquired, with a mean age of 39.8 (13.4) years. Information-seeking preferences were high, with an API-I score of 90.1 (13.8). Preferences for information-seeking behaviors were higher in severely depressed (P = 0.010) and less educated (P = 0.026) patients. Preferences were negatively correlated with length of psychiatric treatment (r = −0.514; P = 0.002). Sixty-one percent had a priori information regarding their psychiatric problem, and 68.8% considered it was influential in the decision-making behavior. Access and use of digital resources were correlated with education level (0.644; P = 0.000 and 0.554; P = 0.003), age (−0.357; P = 0.001 and −0.559; P = 0.007) and illness severity (−0.431; P = 0.04).ConclusionPatients with depression want to be informed about their mental condition and treatment options. Few resources are used and decision mostly relies on health professional's opinion and guidance. Accessible resources seem scarce and future research shall address the acceptance and impact of decisional-aid instruments on this population.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie McCrory ◽  
Astrid McLellan ◽  
Karolina Kiper ◽  
Clare Munro ◽  
Christopher-James Harvey ◽  
...  

Introduction: Adolescents are vulnerable to experiencing insufficient sleep which can increase the risk of developing insomnia, mental/physical health problems and mood regulation. School-based sleep improvement interventions (SBSII) have been developed utilising Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia techniques and found improvements in sleep knowledge and behaviour. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of a school-based sleep improvement intervention (iSLEEP) for improving sleep and psychological wellbeing in adolescents.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted. The participants (115, aged 12-15) were recruited from secondary schools in Scotland. iSLEEP comprised of three lessons, combining formal sleep education and CBT-I, and were delivered over three consecutive weeks. Baseline (1 week before lesson 1) and follow-up (1 week following lesson 3) assessments comprised of self-report questionnaires to measure change in sleep, depression, anxiety and stress. Two weeks following the final lesson, a convenience sample of 19 pupils (14 females) were recruited to participate in focus groups.Results: There were significant improvements in overall sleep and marginal differences between those who were categorised with ‘probable insomnia’ at baseline and likewise for ‘good sleepers’. There were no significant improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress. Two themes and two sub-themes were generated. Participants reported that iSLEEP was acceptable and improved their sleep.Conclusions: These findings indicate that iSLEEP is an effective, feasible and acceptable SBSII. Future research should aim to utilise a controlled design to further investigate the efficacy of iSLEEP.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Petrowski ◽  
Elmar Brähler ◽  
Thomas Suslow ◽  
Markus Zenger

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Betsch ◽  
Philipp Schmid ◽  
Dorothee K. Heinemeier ◽  
Lars Korn ◽  
Cindy Holtmann ◽  
...  

BackgroundMonitoring the reasons why a considerable number of people do not receive recommended vaccinations allows identification of important trends over time, and designing and evaluating strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake. Existing validated measures assessing vaccine hesitancy focus primarily on confidence in vaccines and the system that delivers them. However, empirical and theoretical work has stated that complacency (not perceiving diseases as high risk), constraints (structural and psychological barriers), calculation (engagement in extensive information searching), and aspects pertaining to collective responsibility (willingness to protect others) also play a role in explaining vaccination behavior. The objective was therefore to develop a validated measure of these 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination. Methods and FindingsThree cross-sectional studies were conducted. Study 1 uses factor analysis to develop an initial scale and assesses the sub-scales’ convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity (N = 1,445, two German convenience-samples). In Study 2, a sample representative regarding age and gender for the German population (N = 1,003) completed the measure for vaccination in general and for specific vaccinations to assess the potential need for a vaccine-specific wording of items. Study 3 compared the novel scale’s performance with six existing measures of vaccine hesitancy (N = 350, US convenience-sample). As an outcome, a long (15-item) and short (5-item) 5C scale were developed as reliable and valid indicators of confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility. The 5C sub-scales correlated with relevant psychological concepts, such as attitude (confidence), perceived personal health status and invulnerability (complacency), self-control (constraints), preference for deliberation (calculation), and communal orientation (collective responsibility), among others. The new scale provided similar results when formulated in a general vs. vaccine-specific way (Study 2). In a comparison of seven measures the 5C scale was constantly among the scales that explained the highest amounts of variance in analyses predicting single vaccinations (between 20% and 40%; Study 3). The present studies are limited to the concurrent validity of the scales. ConclusionsThe 5C scale provides a novel tool to monitor psychological antecedents of vaccination and facilitates diagnosis, intervention design and evaluation. Its short version is suitable for field settings and regular global monitoring of relevant antecedents of vaccination.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Rek ◽  
André Kerber ◽  
Christoph J. Kemper ◽  
Johannes Zimmermann

BackgroundThe Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) is the gold-standard self-report tool to assess personality pathology according to five maladaptive trait domains (Criterion B) and may also be used to estimate the severity of personality problems (Criterion A). Previous research incorporating the PID-5 has often been limited by sample selection biases and relatively arbitrarily set cut-off values. Thus, our aim was to establish norm values and scrutinize the nomological net of the PID-5 Brief Form Plus (PID5BF+) using a representative sample from the general population.MethodsWe used data (N=4,727) from the ongoing GESIS panel, which includes a representative German sample. Participants completed the PID5BF+ and various measures of psychological functioning. Descriptive norms based on the cumulative percentile distributions and model-based norms for different versions of the PID-5 based on multiple group graded response models were determined. Moreover, the nomological net of PID5BF+ scales was examined using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses.ResultsWe established representative norm values for each of the five PID5BF+ domains and the total score, and present model-based norms for four different PID-5 versions. Results confirmed that self-reported personality pathology was associated with lower socio-economic status and greater psychological disturbances.ConclusionOur empirically-based representative norm values of the PID5BF+ provide a reference framework for practitioners and researchers to evaluate and interpret the PID-5. Moreover, we highlight the relevance of personality pathology not only in clinical settings but also for wider societal functioning and public mental health.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia ◽  
Amarat Zaatut

This article presents a study that examined beliefs about violent husbands and about helping battered women among Palestinian women living in Israel from the perspective of patriarchal ideology. A convenience sample of 701 married women was obtained, and a self-report questionnaire was administered. The findings reveal that the majority of participants held violent husbands accountable for their behavior; however, the majority of them did not support punishing violent husbands through formal agencies (i.e., the police) or through informal social institutions (i.e., the family). In addition, contrary to expectations, the majority of women perceived wife beating as a social problem rather than as a private one that should be dealt with within the family. Regression and multiple regression analysis revealed that women’s endorsement of patriarchal ideology was found to influence all three above-mentioned beliefs about violent husbands and battered women, over and above the amount of variance in each of these beliefs that could be attributed to the women’s sociodemographic characteristics. The limitations of the study and its implications for future research are discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document