Advancement of the Subjective Vitality Scale: examination of alternative measurement models for Japanese and Singaporeans

The Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS: Ryan & Frederick, 1997) is a 7‐item self‐report instrument to measure one's level of vitality and has been widely used in psychological studies. However, there have been discrepancies in which version of the SVS (7‐ or 6‐item version) employed between as well as within researchers. Moreover, Item 5 seems not be a good indicator of vitality from a content validity perspective. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the SVS for Japanese and Singaporeans rigorously by comparing 3 measurement models (5‐, 6‐, and 7‐item models). To this end, the scale was first translated from English to Japanese and then the Japanese and English versions of the scale were administered to Japanese (n = 268) and Singaporean undergraduate students (n = 289), respectively. The factorial and concurrent validity of the three models were examined independently on each of the samples. Furthermore, the covariance stability of the vitality responses was assessed over a 4‐week time period for another independent Japanese sample (n = 140). The findings from this study indicated that from methodological and content validity perspectives, the 5‐item model is considered most preferable for both language versions of the SVS.     

Ageing hospital nurses' well-being at work: psychometric testing of the Dignity and Respect in Ageing Nurses' Work Scale

Valid and reliable methods to measure nurses' well-being at work as a positive phenomenon are needed. Factors promoting well-being at work need to be identified, which would enable targeting interventions and development in nursing work in an appropriate manner. Due to dissimilarity of many areas of nursing work and unique features of every age group, specialized and aligned scales are needed. The aim of this article is to describe a study to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Dignity and Respect in Ageing Nurses' Work Scale (DRANWS). A sample of 328 ageing Finnish hospital nurses in the first phase (response rate 55%) and 285 nurses in the second phase (response rate 48%) responded to the scale. Content validity was assessed by expert evaluation. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess construct validity. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The DRANWS consists of 72 items and three dimensions: (1) nurse-nurse interaction (cohesion, feeling of freedom in work community, giving and receiving assistance and support, nurses' status at work, perceiving one's work as meaningful, being together with other nurses, nurses working in pairs), (2) nurse-patient interaction (patient satisfaction, well-conducted nursing, encountering patients and helping them) and (3) nursing-centredness (provision of good care to patients, putting the patient first, appreciation of nursing). Cronbach's alphas ranged from 0.74 to 0.96 in the first phase and from 0.79 to 0.98 in the second phase, demonstrating the internal consistency of scale to be high. Content validity was good based on expert evaluations. Construct validity of the scale was also very good based on factor analysis. In conclusion, the DRANWS is a reliable and valid scale to measure well-being at work of ageing hospital nurses focusing on dignity and respect.     

婚姻态度量表中文版在未婚大学生及社区居民中的信度和效度

目的:翻译、修订婚姻态度量表(the Marital Attitude Scale,MAS),并在中国社会文化背景下,考察其信度和效度。方法:首先在76名大学本科生中进行预试,以充分了解预试对象对MAS量表的意见;而后以MAS在626名大学本科生和249名社区居民中施测,随机抽取其中201名大学生10天后接受重测;采用t检验、相关系数、Cronbachα系数、因素分析进行条目筛选;最后,对修订后的量表进行信度和效度分析。结果:项目分析以后,MAS删除3个条目,组成20个条目的新量表;MAS的Cronbachα系数为0.738,重测信度为0.893;验证性因素分析发现MAS中文版基本符合原文的理论构想,共包括2个因素:一般婚姻观念和自我婚姻的评价或展望。结论:婚姻态度量表中文版具有较好的信度和效度,符合心理测量学的要求,可用于婚姻态度研究。     

Synthesis of the psychometric properties of the PTSD checklist (PCL) military, civilian, and specific versions

The posttraumatic stress disorder checklist is a commonly used measure, with military (PCL-M), civilian (PCL-C), and specific trauma (PCL-S) versions. This synthesis of the psychometric properties of all three versions found the PCL to be a well-validated measure. The PCL shows good temporal stability, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. The majority of structural validity studies support four factor models. Little is available on discriminant validity and sensitivity to change. Strengths, limitations, and future research directions are discussed. Understanding the PCL's psychometric properties, strengths (e.g., items map on to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria), and limitations (e.g., may overestimate PTSD prevalence) will help clinicians and researchers make educated decisions regarding the appropriate use of this measure in their particular setting.     

Portuguese version of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory: transcultural adaptation and psychometric validation

Objectives: The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) is a recently developed anxiety instrument designed to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms across a range of presentations in older adults. In this study, the authors examined the validity of the Portuguese version of the GAI and assessed its psychometric properties.

Method: A cross-sectional study was designed using a sample of 152 community-dwelling older adults, and a geriatric psychiatric sample of outpatients with clinical diagnoses of depression (n?=?32), anxiety disorders (n?=?23), and early Alzheimer's disease (n?=?10).

Results: The Portuguese version of the GAI required linguistic and transcultural adaptations, particularly on the somatic expressions of anxiety. It exhibited sound internal consistency and demonstrated good concurrent validity against the state half of the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The optimal cut-off point to detect severe anxiety symptoms was 8/9, but no optimal cut-off point for Generalized Anxiety Disorder could be estimated.

Conclusion: These findings provide initial evidence that the Portuguese version of the GAI is a valid and reliable measure for assessing late-life anxiety and highlights the need for possible modifications of the instrument before being used in other languages and cultural groups.     

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Bipolar Functional Status Questionnaire (BFSQ)

Goldberg JF, McLeod LD, Fehnel SE, Williams VSL, Hamm LR, Gilchrist K. Development and psychometric evaluation of the Bipolar Functional Status Questionnaire (BFSQ). Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 32–44. © 2010 The Authors.
Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives: Persistently impaired psychosocial functioning has been recognized in many individuals with bipolar disorder. However, existing measures of functional disability have been adapted for use in bipolar disorder based mainly on those developed for use in other conditions. The present study involved the development and validation of a new patient self‐report measure specific to bipolar disorder, the Bipolar Functional Status Questionnaire (BFSQ). Methods: Relevant constructs were identified, evaluated, and refined through an expert advisory panel in conjunction with patient interviews. Questionnaire items were vetted through iterative patient interviews. Psychometric properties were determined based on patient responses from implementation of the proposed 33‐item questionnaire in an 11‐site study of 596 patients with bipolar disorder across varied phases of illness. Results: Eight constructs were identified as fundamental to functional status in bipolar disorder: cognitive function, sleep, role functioning, emotional functioning, energy/vitality, social functioning, personal management, and sexual functioning. Psychometric validation supported item reduction to a 24‐item unidimensional scale, with high internal consistency (coefficient α’s = 0.93–0.95), high test‐retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86, 95% confidence interval = 0.82–0.89), strong convergent validity with other functional disability measures (r’s > 0.70), and highly significant discriminant validity across illness phases, with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 0.70). Conclusions: The BFSQ is a psychometrically sound self‐report measure that can be used to effectively quantify functional status across different clinical states in patients with bipolar disorder.