Dominique L. Debats

On the psychometric properties of the life regard index (LRI): a measure of meaningful life: an evaluation in three independent samples based on the Dutch version

The current study presents data on the reliability and validity of the Life Regard Index (LRI), a 28-item scale which was designed to assess positive life regard, degree of experienced meaningfulness of ones life. The theoretical LRI structure, distinguishing two dimensions framework and fulfilment, was substantially supported by empirical data from distressed student (n = 116), normal student (n = 169) and general population (n=176) samples. The findings demonstrated that the LRI scales have high internal consistency, and good test-retest reliability. The LRI strongly discriminated distressed and non-distressed subjects. Associations with happiness, psychological well-being and primary relationships were established, showing evidence for construct validity of the LRI. Furthermore the instrument was found to be a great extent independent of specific value orientations. The use of the instrument in further research is recommended.

Perfectionism and the Five-factor Personality Traits as Predictors of Mortality in Older Adults

The major hypothesis of the study was that perfectionism as a personality trait, along with the five-factor personality traits and dispositional optimism, is strongly associated with mortality in late life. After baseline assessment of health and personality traits as predictors of mortality, 450 participants were followed over a period of 6.5 years. Consistent with our hypotheses, findings demonstrated that risk of death was significantly greater for high scorers in perfectionism and neuroticism, compared to low scorers at the time of base line. Conversely, risk of death was significantly lower for high scorers in conscientiousness, extraversion and optimism. Implications for health and longevity are discussed.

THE LIFE REGARD INDEX - RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY

This study investigated the reliability and factorial validity of the Life Regard Index, a measure of meaning in life. Principal component factor analyses performed on the responses of 122 undergraduate psychology students, gave two factors, fulfillment and framework, confirming the theoretical structure. Alpha estimates of internal consistency of the factor scales ranged from satisfactory to good. Analysis supports the predicted moderate negative correlations with anxiety, hostility and depression and a positive correlation with elation. Discriminant validity was good: the index discriminated persons who are happy and satisfied with their lives from unhappy and dissatisfied ones. A clear philosophy of life, education, and psychological counseling correlated significantly with the degree of meaning in life. The use of the instrument in further research is recommended.

Self-efficacy beliefs as predictors of loneliness and psychological distress in older adults.

Sociodemographic variables, social support, and physical health have been used previously in a few predictor models of loneliness and psychological distress in late life. The present study, however, was designed to test the hypothesis that self-efficacy beliefs of elderly persons are significantly stronger predictors of loneliness and psychological distress than are demographics, social support, and physical health variables used in earlier predictor models. A sample of 141 women and 101 men, aged 65 to 86, reporting a wide range of health status from “poor” to “excellent” was drawn from the region of Southern Alberta. Standard self-report measures were used to assess perceived self-efficacy in eight different domains. Findings from a series of hierarchical regression analyses that were conducted separately for men, women, and the combined sample supported the hypothesis concerning the superiority of the self-efficacy variables as predictors of loneliness and psychological distress. Gender-specific variations revealed that womens stronger self-efficacy domains in the interpersonal, social, and emotional realms, and mens stronger self-efficacy beliefs in the instrumental, financial, and physical realms predicted less loneliness and psychological distress. Spiritual self-efficacy emerged as being the most potent predictor, accounting for the largest percentage of explained variance in loneliness and psychological distress in the womens and combined sample. Implications of the findings are discussed for geriatric practitioners and clinicians.

Perfectionism and other related trait measures as predictors of mortality in diabetic older adults: A six-and-a-half-year longitudinal study

After baseline assessment of health and perfectionism trait measures, 385 diabetic older adults were followed for six-and-a-half years. We hypothesized that the potential for increased stress associated with perfectionism leads to an increased risk of impending mortality for diabetics. Contrary to our hypothesis, mortality risk was 29 percent lower for high scorers on the perfectionism (self-oriented) dimension, compared to low scorers. In contrast, Cox regression analysis showed that high scores on measures of dysfunctional perfectionistic attitudes and dysfunctional dependency, which in many respects parallel the perfectionism (self-oriented) measure, were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Implications of findings are discussed.