Non-overlapping factor scales for the Mini-Mult.

Abstract

Performed a principal axes factor analysis on Mini-Mult item data obtained from 249 medical and psychiatric patients. Six factors were extracted and after Varimax rotation were labeled Psychoticism, Alienation and Low Morale, Somatization, Shyness, Dysphoria, and Defensiveness. Corresponding to these factors, non-overlapping summative scales were constructed and their reliabilities evaluated. Alpha coefficients were satisfactory for three scales, but the remaining scales, which contained fewer items, had less adequate reliabilities. The scales were recommended for applications in which it is desirable to avoid the excessive item overlap of the standard Mini-Mult scales.