Development of an Instrument to Assess Spirituality: Reliability and Validation of the Attitudes Related to Spirituality Scale (ARES)

Background: Several instruments that measure spirituality present overlaps with positive emotions, impacting the interpretation of their findings. In order to minimize these problems, we aimed to develop, assess the reliability and validate a new scale to evaluate spirituality.Methods: The instrument was designed using a theoretical framework minimizing tautological issues (i.e., Koenig’s framework), a qualitative study investigating the definitions of spirituality, the development of the first version of instrument by experts’ meetings and a qualitative cognitive debriefing. Then, the instrument was examined for its content validity by a multidisciplinary group of judges and was pilot-tested in two different groups – less religious (medical students – n = 85) and more religious (practicing religious members – n = 85). Finally, psychometric properties and validity were assessed.Results: The developed Attitudes Related to Spirituality Scale (ARES) is a self-report 11-item instrument using five-level Likert items. ARES presented appropriate psychometric properties revealing excellent internal consistency (alpha = 0.98) and temporal stability (ICC = 0.98). Likewise, ARES was strongly correlated with other validated R/S instruments (i.e., Duke Religion Index and Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality) and was able to discriminate higher and lower religious groups. In the exploratory factor analysis, a unidimensional structure of the scale was described. Fit indices for the scale demonstrated good fit in the unidimensional model.Conclusion: The ARES is a reliable, valid and stable one-dimension instrument that is appropriate for use in the Portuguese-speaking population.Descriptors: Spirituality; Scale; Factorial Analysis; Instrument; Measure; Psychometrics.

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Measuring and Assessing Fluctuating and Authentic–Durable Happiness in Italian Samples

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041602 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1602

Author(s):

Lucia Monacis ◽

Pierpaolo Limone ◽

Michaël Dambrun ◽

Antonella Delle Fave ◽

Maria Sinatra

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Measurement Models ◽

A Value ◽

New Instrument ◽

Convergent And Divergent Validity ◽

Test Retest Reliability

On the basis of the self-centeredness and selflessness model, a new instrument assessing two distinct dimensions of happiness, fluctuating and authentic–durable, was developed. The current research aimed at examining the factor structure of the Italian version of the instrument, its psychometric properties and construct validity. To this end, two studies were carried out. Study 1 (N = 544) examined different measurement models, from unidimensional to multidimensional, from a fully symmetrical bifactor solution to a bifactor (S-1) solution. Findings indicated better and adequate fit indices for the last model. Using various samples (n = 1274) Study 2 confirmed the bifactor (S-1) structure and analysed psychometric properties, convergent and divergent validity and temporal stability of the instrument. Findings generally gave evidence of the multidimensional conceptualization of the construct, good levels of reliability values and adequate convergent validity of both scales. Discriminant validity showed mixed results from no association of age with authentic–durable happiness to weak and negative association with fluctuating happiness. Test–retest reliability displayed an adequate value of correlation coefficient for the two set scores of the authentic dimension and a value below the recommended cut-off criteria for the fluctuating dimension, where significant differences in the mean scores emerged. Future studies should aim to replicate the results of this research and attempt to overcome its limitations.

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“Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the PROMIS Sleep Measures in Persons with Psychosis.”

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab140 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christina L G Savage ◽

Ryan D Orth ◽

Anyela M Jacome ◽

Melanie E Bennett ◽

Jack J Blanchard

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Self Report ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sleep Parameters

Abstract An accumulation of research has indicated that persons with psychotic disorders experience a variety of sleep disturbances. However, few studies have examined the psychometric properties of sleep assessments that are utilized in this population. We conducted two studies to examine the reliability and validity of the PROMISTM Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment scales in outpatient samples of persons with psychosis. In Study 1, we examined the internal consistency and convergent validity of the PROMIS sleep scales in individuals with various psychotic disorders (N = 98) and healthy controls (N = 22). The PROMIS sleep scales showed acceptable internal consistency and convergent validity in both healthy controls and individuals with psychotic disorders. In addition, replicating prior research, the PROMIS scales identified greater sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment in participants with psychotic disorders compared to healthy controls. In Study 2, we examined the test-retest reliability (M = 358 days) of the PROMIS sleep scales in a subset (N = 37) of persons with psychotic disorders who previously participated in Study 1. We also assessed the relation between these self-report measures and actigraph sleep parameters. The results showed that PROMIS sleep measures demonstrated modest temporal stability in the current sample. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was a lack of correspondence between these scales and actigraph sleep parameters. Overall, these findings indicate that the PROMIS sleep scales are psychometrically sound measures for populations with psychosis and highlight the importance of utilizing a multi-method approach to assess sleep.

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VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE FLOURISHING SCALE: LATVIAN VERSION

SOCIETY INTEGRATION EDUCATION Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference ◽

10.17770/sie2021vol7.6402 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 171-180

Author(s):

Inese Sadauska ◽

Aleksandrs Koļesovs

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Validity And Reliability

The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Latvian version of the Flourishing Scale (FS), created by Diener et al. (2010). FS is a brief self-report measure of the respondent’s well-being and success in areas of relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. The scale provides a single score across 8 items. The original FS was translated to Latvian and then back to English. The Satisfaction with Life Scale and Meaning in Life Questionnaire was applied for testing the convergent validity of the FS. Participants of the study were 191 people, ranged in age from 19 to 68 (159 women, mean age M = 30.62, SD = 9.50). Reliability analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA) of the scale were performed. EFA indicated a one-factor structure. Results showed that the Latvian version of FS has good psychometric properties and demonstrated convergent validity. Testing of the original model by CFA resulted in acceptable fit indices.

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Psychometric Properties of the Generalized Pliance Questionnaire in Spain

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000614 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Francisco J. Ruiz ◽

Paula Odriozola-González ◽

Juan C. Suárez-Falcón

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Factor Model ◽

Self Report ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Convergent Construct Validity ◽

Excellent Internal Consistency ◽

Abstract Rule ◽

The One ◽

Report Measure

Abstract. Rule-governed behavior is a central concept to explain complex human behavior from a functional-analytic standpoint. Recently, a self-report measure of a functional type of rule-following called generalized pliance has been developed – the Generalized Pliance Questionnaire (GPQ). The GPQ has two versions with 18 and 9 items, respectively. This study aimed to analyze the factor structure and psychometric properties of both GPQ versions in a Spanish online sample ( N = 846). Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the one-factor model obtained an acceptable fit in the GPQ-18, but an inadequate fit in the GPQ-9. The GPQ-18 showed measurement invariance across gender, excellent internal consistency, and convergent construct validity. According to the results, the GPQ-18 showed good psychometric properties in Spanish samples.

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Psychometric Properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000090 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 51-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Anna Ogliari ◽

Simona Scaini ◽

Michael J. Kofler ◽

Valentina Lampis ◽

Annalisa Zanoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Social Phobia ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Emotional Disorders ◽

Child Anxiety ◽

Self Report ◽

Public Performance ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

The Social ◽

General Populations

Reliable and valid self-report questionnaires could be useful as initial screening instruments for social phobia in both clinical settings and general populations. The present study investigates the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) in a sample of 228 children from the Italian general population aged 8 to 11. The children were asked to complete the Italian version of the SPAI-C and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that social phobia can be conceptualized as a unitary construct consisting of five distinct but interrelated symptom clusters named Assertiveness, General Conversation, Physical/Cognitive Symptoms, Avoidance, and Public Performance. Internal consistency of the SPAI-C total scores and two subscales was good; correlations between SPAI-C total scores and SCARED total scores/subscales ranged from moderate to high (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, for social phobia), with the SCARED Social Phobia subscale as the best predictor of SPAI-C total scores. The results indicate that the SPAI-C is a reliable and sensitive instrument suitable for identifying Social Phobia in the young Italian general population.

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Dimensionality and Reliability Assessment of the Pain Patient Profile Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.24.1.22 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 22-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian E. McGuire ◽

Michael J. Hogan ◽

Todd G. Morrison

Keyword(s):

Self Report ◽

Pain Patient ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Oblique Rotation ◽

Pain Experience ◽

Patient Profile ◽

Adequate Representation ◽

Pain Patients ◽

Report Measure

Abstract. Objective: To factor analyze the Pain Patient Profile questionnaire (P3; Tollison & Langley, 1995 ), a self-report measure of emotional distress in respondents with chronic pain. Method: An unweighted least squares factor analysis with oblique rotation was conducted on the P3 scores of 160 pain patients to look for evidence of three distinct factors (i.e., Depression, Anxiety, and Somatization). Results: Fit indices suggested that three distinct factors, accounting for 32.1%, 7.0%, and 5.5% of the shared variance, provided an adequate representation of the data. However, inspection of item groupings revealed that this structure did not map onto the Depression, Anxiety, and Somatization division purportedly represented by the P3. Further, when the analysis was re-run, eliminating items that failed to meet salience criteria, a two-factor solution emerged, with Factor 1 representing a mixture of Depression and Anxiety items and Factor 2 denoting Somatization. Each of these factors correlated significantly with a subsample's assessment of pain intensity. Conclusion: Results were not congruent with the P3's suggested tripartite model of pain experience and indicate that modifications to the scale may be required.

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Using the Rating Scale Model to Examine the Psychometric Properties of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Driver Competence

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000063 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 164-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Sundström

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Measurement Precision ◽

The Self ◽

Test Theory ◽

Self Report ◽

Scale Model ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Two Samples

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a self-report scale for assessing perceived driver competence, labeled the Self-Efficacy Scale for Driver Competence (SSDC), using item response theory analyses. Two samples of Swedish driving-license examinees (n = 795; n = 714) completed two versions of the SSDC that were parallel in content. Prior work, using classical test theory analyses, has provided support for the validity and reliability of scores from the SSDC. This study investigated the measurement precision, item hierarchy, and differential functioning for males and females of the items in the SSDC as well as how the rating scale functions. The results confirmed the previous findings; that the SSDC demonstrates sound psychometric properties. In addition, the findings showed that measurement precision could be increased by adding items that tap higher self-efficacy levels. Moreover, the rating scale can be improved by reducing the number of categories or by providing each category with a label.

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An Initial Investigation of the Use of Comparative Referents to Assess Social Anxiety

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000349 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 367-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura D. Seligman ◽

Erin F. Swedish ◽

Jason P. Rose ◽

Jessica M. Baker

Keyword(s):

Social Anxiety ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Self Report ◽

Injunctive Norms ◽

Good Reliability ◽

Convergent And Discriminant Validity ◽

Excellent Internal Consistency ◽

Social Quality Of Life ◽

Comparison Measures

Abstract. The current study examined the validity of two self-report measures of social anxiety constructed using social comparative referent points. It was hypothesized that these comparison measures would be both reliable and valid. Results indicated that two different comparative versions – one invoking injunctive norms and another invoking descriptive norms – showed good reliability, excellent internal consistency, and acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. The comparative measures also predicted positive functioning, some aspects of social quality of life, and social anxiety as measured by an independent self-report. These findings suggest that adding a comparative reference point to instructions on social anxiety measures may aid in the assessment of social anxiety.

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