Joylene R. Osman

The Beck Anxiety Inventory: Reexamination of factor structure and psychometric properties

Several exploratory factor-analytic studies of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) have reported two, four, and five factors. This study evaluated the fit of four competing models to data provided by a sample of 350 undergraduates. Results of the initial confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) provided strong support for the fit of the four-factor oblique model. Next, we respecified the four-factor model as a single second-order BAI. Results showed that the second-order model also provided adequate fit to the data. Evidence also supported the psychometric indices of reliability and convergent validity. Finally, we examined the relation of the BAI to several demographic variables. Limitations of the study are discussed.

The reasons for living inventory for adolescents (RFL-A): Development and psychometric properties

The role of adaptive beliefs and attitudes against suicide has not been given adequate attention in the clinical or assessment literature. This article reports on the development and initial psychometric properties of a 32-item self-report inventory, the Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (RFL-A). In Phase 1, we used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to identify five correlated factors: Future Optimism, Suicide-Related Concerns, Family Alliance, Peer Acceptance and Support, and Self-Acceptance. In Phase 2, we cross-validated the 5-factor oblique model in a different group of adolescents recruited from two high schools. In addition, we examined evidence for convergent, discriminant, and construct validities. The coefficient alpha indices for the RFL-A total and scales were satisfactory. In Phase 3, we evaluated additional evidence of reliability and validity using samples of high school and psychiatric inpatient adolescents. The results suggest that the RFL-A is a short, reliable, and valid measure that is potentially useful in the assessment of adolescent suicidal behavior.

The beck anxiety inventory: Psychometric properties in a community population

This study presents data on the norms and psychometric properties of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), using a sample of 225 community adult volunteers. Maximum-likelihood confirmatory factor analyses of previously published models of the BAI: a two-factor model and a five-factor model, showed that the fit of each model was unacceptable. Also, the fit of the single-factor model was poor. Exploratory principal-components analyses with varimax and oblique rotations suggested four BAI components within this sample. Satisfactory levels of reliability were established for the BAI subscales. Finally, the relations between the BAI total and subscale scores and a related measure of anxiety and with another self-report measure of psychological distress were examined.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Reasons for Living Inventory

This study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL; Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen, & Chiles, 1983) in a sample of college students with a range of suicidal ideation and behaviors. An exploratory factor analysis of the 48-item RFL extracted 6 factors, similar to those described by Linehan et al. (1983). All coefficients alpha and item-subscale correlations were adequate. Additional nonclinical normative data are presented. Multivariate analysis of variance identified 3 significant discriminant functions for group separation. Correlational analyses provided information about the relationships between the RFL and other self-report measures of suicide risk and general psychopathology. Three RFL subscales were useful in predicting suicide risk and general psychopathology

The Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale: Psychometric properties in a community sample

This study investigated the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS). The PASS assesses four components of pain-related anxiety: cognitive, fear, escapelavoidance, and physiological. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for both the one-factor and the four-factor structures reported for samples of clinic-referred pain patients. The alpha coefficients were high for the PASS subscales. Significant gender differences were obtained on the PASS total and subscale scores. Convergent and divergent validity estimates of the PASS were also assessed. Results may be used to evaluate the responses of clinic-referred pain patients.

The Brief Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (BRFL-A)

This study modified and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) in samples of adolescents. Internal consistency reliability, corrected item-total scale correlation, and exploratory factor analysis procedures were used with a mixed sample of 260 adolescents to identify 14 items for the brief version of the RFL (BRFL-A). Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the five-factor oblique structure of the BRFL-A in a psychiatric inpatient sample with a range of suicidal behaviors. Reliabilities of the BRFL-A subscales were satisfactory. Four of the five subscales differentiated between suicidal and nonsuicidal adolescents. Significant correlations were found between three BRFL-A subscales and several suicide indices. Convergent-discriminant validity was examined by correlating the BRFL-A subscales with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescents (MMPI-A) Content Scales. Limitations of the study are discussed.

Psychometric evaluation of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory in college students.

The present study reports on the psychometric properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI; Turner et al., 1989a) in two nonclinical samples of college undergraduates. Exploratory principal-components analysis with varimax rotation replicated the five-factor solutions reported for the 32-item Social Phobia subscale (SP) in sample 1 (N = 200). Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the five-factor structure of the SP and the two-factor structure of the SPAI were appropriate for the second sample (N = 210) data. Coefficient alpha values were high for all the SP and the SPAI subscales. Furthermore, we examined the relations between the SPAI subscales and measures of social fear and anxiety, social desirability, and general psychopathology. Results support the research use of the SPAI in our undergraduate samples.

Validation of the multi‐attitude suicide tendency scale in adolescent samples

The present study extended research on the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency scale (MAST). A mixed sample of 215 adolescents, aged 15 to 18 years, participated in the study. Exploratory principal-components analysis of the 30 MAST items provided support for the four-factor structure of the scale: attraction toward and repulsion by life and death. The MAST subscales showed satisfactory levels of internal consistency. Specific and subset of the MAST subscales were identified for differentiating among adolescents who differed in degrees of psychopathology and suicidal behavior. Correlational and regression analyses examined the relations among the MAST subscales and self-report measures of suicidal behavior, social desirability, and general psychopathology. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory: Further Validation in Two Nonclinical Samples

The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) has been developed to assess specific symptoms of social phobia and agoraphobia. Although the SPAI was developed with both clinical and nonclinical populations, research with this measure is currently focused primarily on clinical samples. We examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the SPAI in adult community and college undergraduate samples. We found that single-sample and multisample confirmatory factor analyses provided support for extending use of the correlated two-factor SPAI subscales to our nonclinical samples. In addition, we found evidence for the internal consistency reliability of the SPAI subscales in both samples. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The multi-attitude suicide tendency scale: Psychometric characteristics in an american sample

The Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST) was designed to assess suicidal tendencies in youth. This 30-item scale has four types of attitudes: attraction to life, repulsion by life, attraction to death, and repulsion by death. Normative, factor structure, and psychometric data were investigated with American youth with a range of suicidal ideations and behaviors. The reported factor structure was replicated with American youths. In addition, all four factor scales showed good reliability estimates. Finally, the relationships among the MAST factors and measures of suicidal behavior and ideation, social desirability, and general psychopathology were examined.