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Results for “construct validity”

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PubMed1995

Construct validity of the abuse-dependence distinction as measured by DSM-IV criteria for different psychoactive substances.

This article used the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) to compare the validity of a qualitative and a quantitative model of the abuse-dependence distinction for different psychoactive substances in samples of drug users drawn from drug treatment inpatients, general psychiatric patients, and the community. The hypothesis that DSM-IV abuse criteria differ from dependence criteria in kind rather than degree (a qualitative model) was only occasionally supported by confirmatory factor analyses of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, by patterns of correlations of the two kinds of criteria with Addiction Severity Score (ASI) composites and measures of frequency of substance abuse, and by concurrent/prognostic validity analyses. However, the findings were consistent with a quantitative model of the abuse-dependence distinction that posits that abuse is a mild form of dependence. Whether abuse and dependence categories of users were established from separate DSM-IV criteria for abuse and dependence or from scores from a severity-of-dependence scale based on the pooled DSM-IV dependence and abuse criteria, abusers generally used drugs less than users in the dependence category and reported less problems associated with substance abuse on the ASI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Use of structural equation modeling to test the construct validity of a case definition of Gulf War syndrome: invariance over developmental and validation samples, service branches and publicity.

To attempt to replicate the syndrome-like structure identified by exploratory factor analysis of symptom reports from 249 Gulf War veterans of a Naval reserve battalion (the developmental sample), we administered Haley's original symptom questionnaire to 335 Gulf War veterans who served primarily in active-duty US Army units living in North Texas (the validation sample). On the basis of recently validated goodness-of-fit criteria (SRMR or=0.95), a structural equation model (Model 1) with four symptom scales loading on each of three first-order latent syndrome factors fit both the developmental and validation samples well and was invariant across both samples. Additional models validated a higher-order latent factor (a single Gulf War syndrome) explaining the variances and covariances of the first-order factors, four additional symptom scales loading on the higher-order factor, and four possible secondary factor loadings that also fit the data well. All structural models were invariant across cohorts of the validation sample surveyed before and after intense publicity following publication of the case definition. These findings suggest that the apparent syndrome structure of a single Gulf War syndrome with three variants may be found widely and justify a confirmatory sample survey of Gulf War-era veterans.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Relationship of gender and eating disorder symptoms to reported cravings for food: construct validation of state and trait craving questionnaires in Spanish.

Using confirmatory factor analysis, we cross-validated the factor structures of the Spanish versions of the State and Trait Food Cravings Questionnaires (FCQ-S and FCQ-T; ) in a sample of 304 Spanish college students. Controlling for eating disorder symptoms and food deprivation, scores on the FCQ-T were higher for women than for men, but no sex differences were observed on the FCQ-S. Eating disorder symptomatology was predictive of trait cravings, whereas food deprivation was predictive state cravings. Trait cravings, but not state cravings, were more strongly associated to symptoms of anorexia and bulimia nervosa than with other psychopathology. We suggest that cravings can be conceptualized as multidimensional motivational states and that our data support the hypothesis that food cravings are strongly associated with symptoms of bulimia nervosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale (VerBAS): construct validity, reliability, and internal consistency.

A questionnaire, the Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale, was developed to assess the communicative functions of individuals with developmental disabilities and severe mental handicap. To assess its psychometric characteristics, the questionnaire, comprising 15 items, was administered to pairs of caregivers of 115 participants. Exploratory factor analysis, involving 11 more participants, revealed satisfactory evidence concerning the distinction of three different communicative functions with the present sample. The questionnaire had good levels of interrater reliability and internal consistency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Construct validity and predictive utility of the stages of change scale for alcoholics.

Recent theory and research suggest that the process of changing addictive behaviors may be conceptualized as a stage phenomenon consisting of precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance stages. Accurately assessing motivation or commitment to change seems to be a crucial step in matching patients to appropriate interventions. Using the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA; McConnaughy, Prochaska, & Velicer, 1983), previous research has identified subtypes of outpatient alcoholics based on their attitude toward each of the stages of change. Profiles derived for each subtype roughly corresponded to one of the specific stages of change. The goals of this study were to determine if similar groups could be identified for patients receiving substance abuse treatment in a residential setting and to examine whether these groups would differ on other theoretically relevant variables. Stage of change scale scores for 141 patients entering an alcohol treatment program at a VA domiciliary were submitted to a hierarchical cluster analysis. A two-cluster solution appeared to fit the data best, with group means suggesting the existence of precontemplation and contemplation/action stage groups in this population. The two clusters did not differ on demographic variables, biochemical markers of alcohol consumption, or self-reported awareness of alcohol-related problems. However, participants in the precontemplation cluster reported being less worried about their use, less receptive to help, and having sought out help fewer times in the past. Participants in the contemplation/action cluster also reported greater symptoms of depression and anxiety. Preliminary treatment outcome data for each group are presented, as well as suggestions for treatment matching. Results suggest that the URICA can be used to identify clinically meaningful subtypes of treatment-seeking alcoholics.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Construct validity and responsiveness of the Child Health Questionnaire in children with acute asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity and responsiveness of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF28) in the context of acute exacerbation of asthma in children. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of children age 5 years and older treated for acute asthma at two urban pediatric emergency departments (EDs). At 14 days after the visit, all patients were contacted by telephone and the CHQ-PF28 (modified to have a 2-week recall period) was administered. Poor 14-day outcome was defined as one or more of the following: child or parent missed at least 5 days of school/day care/work; child still having asthma symptoms above baseline at 14 days; or unscheduled care within 7 days after the ED visit. RESULTS: A total of 732 subjects (median age, 9 years) were enrolled; 622 (85%) had successful follow-up at day 14. At the 14-day follow-up, 254 (43%) were classified as having a poor outcome. The mean physical subscale score of the CHQ-PF28 was 48.2 among those with a good outcome, vs 35.9 among the poor outcome group (difference = 12.3; 95% confidence interval, 10.2 to 14.3). For the psychosocial subscale the average difference between groups was 6.9 (95% confidence interval, 5.1 to 8.7). Among the 146 patients at one site who also had a CHQ score obtained at the initial visit, there was a significant improvement in mean physical subscale score among those with good, but not poor, outcome. However, the relative responsiveness was moderate, with an effect size of only 0.37. CONCLUSIONS: Both the physical and psychosocial subscales of the CHQ-PF28 administered 14 days after an ED visit for acute exacerbation of asthma are correlated with poor short-term functional outcome, but scores are only moderately responsive to acute changes in functional status.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

A community-based study of scaling assumptions and construct validity of the English (UK) and Chinese (HK) SF-36 in Singapore.

Scaling assumptions and validity of the English (UK) and Chinese (HK) short form 36 health survey (SF-36) were assessed in a community-based survey of 5,503 Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore using the international quality of life assessment project approach of item and scale level validation. Missing data for SF-36 items and scales occurred in less than 1.0% of subjects. Item level validation of both versions generally supported assumptions underlying Likert scoring and hypothesised item-order clustering. Item level factor analysis supported the eight-scale structure of the SF-36. In scale level validation, SF-36 scale scores showed wide variability and acceptable internal-consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.70 for six English and seven Chinese scales), conformed to hypothesised patterns and generally varied according to hypotheses in subjects known to differ in quality of life. Scale level factor analysis of both versions yielded very similar patterns of factor correlation, comparable to that found in Japan, but differing from that seen in Western populations. Taken together, these results support the validity of the English (UK) and Chinese (HK) SF-36 versions in the multi-ethnic Asian socio-cultural context of Singapore.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Antecedents, concomitants, and consequences of pediatric headache: confirmatory construct validation of two parent-report scales.

The aim of the study presented is to examine the psychometric properties of two parent-report scales for the assessment of environmental factors in pediatric headache, namely, the Children's Headache Assessment Scale (CHAS) and the Illness Behavior Encouragement Scale (IBES). Data were gathered in a sample of 160 parents of children suffering from headaches regularly. The internal structure of both scales is investigated by means of confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency of the resulting subscales is explored and data on the convergent validity and on the relationship with demographics are presented. Both the CHAS and the IBES appear to be promising assessment tools in a behavioral approach to pediatric headache.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

The Religious Support Scale: construction, validation, and cross-validation.

Cutrona and Russell's social support model was used to develop a religious support measure (C. E. Cutrona & D. W. Russell, 1987), including 3 distinct but related subscales respectively measuring support from God, the congregation, and church leadership. Factor analyses with the main sample's data (249 Protestants) and cross-validation (93 additional Protestants) supported the scales' reliability and validity. All 3 types of religious support were related to lower depression and greater life satisfaction. Moreover, several relationships between the 3 subscales and psychological functioning variables remained significant after controlling for variance because of church attendance and social support. Results suggest that religious attendance does not automatically imply religious support, and that religious support can provide unique resources for religious persons, above and beyond those furnished by social support. Findings are discussed regarding relevance to community psychology.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity: contribution to the construct validity.

OBJECTIVE: Impulsivity has been found to be an important trait of personality, whose consequences are not always negative although available questionnaires focused on its 'dysfunctional' aspect. METHOD: Dickman's Functional and Dysfunctional Impulsivity questionnaire has been translated into French, and filled out by students. The tetrachoric correlation matrices were factor analysed. RESULTS: The psychometric properties are very close to those of the English version, and we recovered both factors in males and females. The factor similarities between the genders (in our sample) and between the languages (English vs. French) are very good. The Dysfunctional scale is correlated with the Motor Impulsivity subscale of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and both scales are grossly independent from Spielberger's Trait-Anxiety Inventory. CONCLUSION: Our results support a two-factor solution similar to the English one. Nevertheless, the validity of the functional factor remains to be investigated in further studies.

Adult↗