Amparo Oliver

Rosenberg's self‐esteem scale: Two factors or method effects

Self‐esteem is one of the most studied constructs in psychology. It has been measured with a variety of methods and instruments. Although Rosenbergs (1965) self‐report scale is one of the most widely used, empirical evidence on factor validity of this scale is somewhat contradictory, with either 1 or 2 factors. The results of this study suggest the existence of a global self‐esteem factor underlying responses to the scale, although the inclusion of method effects is needed to achieve a good model fit.

A cross-validation of a structural equation model of accidents: Organizational and psychological variables as predictors of work safety

A study to establish a structural equation model of accidents is presented. The eight variables included in the model were those associated with accidents in previous research. The reliability of questionnaires to measure those variables and a structural equation model relating them are provided. The model explaining the occurrence of accidents was cross-validated through three Spanish samples (n=123; 182; 124).The model presented a good fit to data in two samples, while a third had unclear fit indices. Therefore, most relationships among variables did not vary among these three samples. The role of the safety variables in the model is discussed. The discussion is also focused on risk measurement difficulties commonly reported in the literature. Finally, some suggestions for future safety research with structural equation modelling techniques are provided.

The architecture of employee attitudes to safety in the manufacturing sector

This study examines the relationships between components of organisational safety climate, including: employee attitudes to organisational and individual safety issues; perceptions of the physical work environment and perceptions of workplace hazards; and relates these to self‐reported levels of safety activity. It also attempts to replicate the explicative model derived by Cheyne et al. in a similar study within the manufacturing sector. Data were collected from a large manufacturing organisation using a questionnaire. A total of 708 valid questionnaires were returned and formed the basis for the subsequent analyses. These data showed that a common structure of attitudes to safety issues and perceptions of the work environment can be constructed in line with the previous model, with a few differences, providing some evidence of a sector‐wide safety culture. The strength of employees’ attitudes with regard to safety management and individual responsibility once again played central roles in the model and are consistent with earlier findings. Comparisons are made between the two organisations and mean scores on each of the model components show that there are differences between the two organisations in terms of individual responsibility and personal involvement, as well as levels of safety activity and perceived levels of workplace hazards. The results are discussed in terms of generating general models of attitudes to safety, which in turn may facilitate climate change.

Psychological and physical dimensions explaining life satisfaction among the elderly: A structural model examination

The aim of the present paper is to analyze the effects of psychological well-being, physical functioning and socio-demographic factors on life satisfaction. Both a bivariate and a multivariate level of analyses have been used. Finally, a structural model explaining life satisfaction has been developed and validated. With respect to bivariate relations, there was evidence of significant positive relations between psychological well-being dimensions and life satisfaction and between physical conditions and life satisfaction as well. Also, as age increased there was a slow decrease in life satisfaction. Educational level was positively related to life satisfaction. A structural model gave valuable information about the pattern of multivariate relationships among the variables. A first result of the model was the large effect of physical and psychological well-being on life satisfaction, albeit it was psychological well-being the major predictor of life satisfaction. A second result was that the effects of socio-demographic variables on life satisfaction were low and they operated through the effects that maintain either on psychological well-being (or its individual indicators) or on physical conditions. The role gender or age played was indirect rather than direct.

Health and Safety Management in UK and Spanish SMEs: A Comparative Study

This paper reports on a survey carried out among United Kingdom (UK) and Spanish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to establish their approach to health and safety management and determine views on participating in voluntary management accreditation schemes. The study revealed some key differences between the responding UK and Spanish SMEs. There was (a) an enhanced level of awareness of health and safety legislation; (b) a higher prevalence of safety and quality management systems, and (c) greater involvement of senior managers in managing health and safety in UK enterprises. Interest was expressed in a voluntary management accreditation scheme for health and safety by over half the UK and Spanish sample. Furthermore, those enterprises participating in a voluntary quality management accreditation scheme were more likely to be interested in a voluntary scheme for health and safety management.

Modelling Employee Attitudes to Safety

This paper describes the modeling of employee attitudes to safety in three industrial sectors operating in the UK. Gauging employee attitudes to safety has become an increasingly important method of appraising human factors issues in many organizations. This study is based on data collected from a large survey (n = 2429) of employee attitudes to safety. It attempts to describe the subjective architectures, or explicative model, of employee attitudes to safety in these sectors by relating these attitudes to their appraisals of commitment to safety in their organization. A comparison of models across sector models is also made. The data support the claim that the architecture of attitudes to safety is, at least in part, dependent on the industrial context, or work environment. Differences were found in factor mean scores as well as differences in the relationships between factors in structural equation models for each sector. The models showed that perceptions of management actions and safety training were ...

Linear Confirmatory Factor Models to Evaluate Multitrait-Multimethod Matrices: The Effects of Number of Indicators and Correlation Among Methods

Two models for confirmatory factor analysis of multitrait-multimethod data (MTMM) were assessed, the correlated traits-correlated methods (CTCM), and the correlated traits-correlated uniqueness models (CTCU). Two Monte Carlo experiments (100 replications per cell) were performed to study the behavior of these models in terms of magnitude and direction of bias, and accuracy of estimates. Study one included a single indicator per trait-method combination, and it manipulated three independent variables: matrix type, from three traits-three methods to six traits-six methods; correlation among method factors, from zero to .6; and model type (CTCM and CTCU). Study two included simulated MTMM matrices with two or more indicators per trait-method combination. Again, three independent variables were manipulated: number of indicators per trait-method combination, from 2 to 5; correlation among methods; and model type, CTCM and CTCU. The results from study one showed that the CTCU model performed very well for MTMM designs with a single indicator per trait-method combination, and consistently better than the CTCM model. However, the results from study two showed that the CTCM model worked reasonably well and better than the CTCU model when more than two indicators per trait-method combination were available. Despite the CTCM models allowance for correlation between methods, results pointed to better estimates when methods were orthogonal. The main conclusion of the present article is that the use of CTCU models in the situations described in study one and the use of CTCM models in those represented in study two could be recommended.

Development and validation of a new tool for the assessment and spiritual care of palliative care patients.

CONTEXT Spiritual assessment tools and interventions based on holistic approaches are needed to promote healing. Such tools must be adapted to the wide cultural backgrounds of contemporary Western society. OBJECTIVES To develop and validate a new brief measure, simultaneously featuring clinical applicability and adequate psychometric properties. The tool uses six initial questions to establish a climate of trust with patients before they complete an eight-item, five-point Likert scale. The questionnaire is based on a model of spirituality generated by the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL) Task Force on Spiritual Care (Grupo de Espiritualidad de la SECPAL), which aims to recognize, share, and assess the spiritual resources and needs of palliative care patients. METHODS Multidisciplinary professionals from 15 palliative care teams across Spain interviewed 108 patients using the Grupo de Espiritualidad de la SECPAL questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to study the new tool factor structure and reliability. Additionally, concurrent criterion validity coefficients were estimated considering spiritual well-being, anxiety, depression, resilience, and symptoms. Descriptive statistics on questionnaire applicability were reported. RESULTS Analyses supported a three-factor structure (intrapersonal, interpersonal, transpersonal) with an underlying second-order factor representing a spirituality construct. Adequate reliability results and evidence for construct validity were obtained. CONCLUSION The new questionnaire, based on empirical research and bedside experience, showed good psychometric properties and clinical applicability.

Explaining Method Effects Associated with Negatively Worded Items in Trait and State Global and Domain-Specific Self-Esteem Scales.

Several investigators have interpreted method effects associated with negatively worded items in a substantive way. This research extends those studies in different ways: (a) it establishes the presence of methods effects in further populations and particular scales, and (b) it examines the possible relations between a method factor associated with negatively worded items and several covariates. Two samples were assessed: 592 high school students from Valencia (Spain), and 285 batterers from the same city. The self-esteem scales used were Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale, the State Self-Esteem Scale, and Self-Esteem 17. Anxiety was also assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and gender and educational level were taken into account. The models were conducted using a multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) model framework. The evidence in this research pointed out that method effects were present across the different measures of self-esteem. Moreover, a significant and negative effect of anxiety on method effects was present across scales and samples, whereas no effects of age or educational level where found.

Perceptions of safety climate at different employment levels

The notion of safety climate has become central to contemporary theories of occupational health and safety management. Studies of safety climate, focusing on attitudes and perceptions, have suggested that there are variations in both the architecture and intensity of employee attitudes to safety depending on employment level. This paper explores the nature of such differences. The study described here involved the comparison of data, gathered using a self-administered survey instrument, on employee attitudes to safety across three levels (managers, supervisors and general employees). A total of 967 general employees, 123 first-line supervisors and 97 managers from two large manufacturing organizations took part in the study. The data were compared in three ways. First, the factor structure of attitudes in each group was examined, then possible differences between factor scores were investigated and finally the structural relationships between climate factors were compared across groups. Multisample confirmatory facor analysis showed that the factor structures were verv simila across the groups. In terms of the relationships between the factors, however, the architectures illustrated quite different structures This, taken with the range of differences in the intensity of attitudes and perceptions, suggested that, while managers, supervisors and general employees shared the same definition of saferv factors, their perceptions of these factors and how they inter-related proved to be quite different. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of promoting a positive culture for safety.