Marcus Roth

Dimensionality and Norms of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale in a German General Population Sample

This study analyzed the dimensionality of the German version of Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem scale (RSES) in a nationally representative population sample of 4,988 subjects (46.4% males; aged 14–92 years). Using confirmatory factor analysis, one- and two-dimensional models were tested. Results suggest that the RSES is a two-dimensional scale comprising the highly correlated components positive and negative self-evaluation, which constitute a unitary construct of global self-esteem at the second-order level. In order to obtain a more conclusive solution, an item response theory (IRT) analysis (partial credit model) was conducted. Results lend support to a one-dimensional view of the RSES. Furthermore, psychometric properties and norm values based on the representative sample are reported. Analyses revealed extremely high response probabilities for all items, as a consequence of which self-esteem cannot be differentiated at the upper end of the range.

Validation of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS): efficiency to predict the willingness towards occupational chance, and affection by social desirability

Abstract Taking up the suggestion by Arnett, the present study examines the criterion oriented validity of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (Arnett, 1994), using the willingness towards occupational change as criterion. Furthermore the extent to which the AISS Scales are influenced by social desirability was tested. The study analysed a sample of German employees of public utility companies in Leipzig (N=205) aged 21–60 years. In addition to sensation seeking, the levels of achievement motivation and social desirability were also assessed. Willingness toward occupational change was measured by the duration of present employment and the intention of changing workplace. The findings indicate that the AISS proved to be unaffected by social desirability. Regression analyses show that the AISS-scale “Intensity” is, in addition to achievement motivation, a significant predictor of the intention of changing workplace. However, no relationship was found linking sensation seeking to the duration of present employment.

What is the General Health Questionnaire-12 assessing? Dimensionality and psychometric properties of the General Health Questionnaire-12 in a large scale German population sample.

Since the dimensionality and the related psychometric properties of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) are still under debate, the present study compares different factor solutions from the literature to determine which shows the best fit and to investigate reliability and construct validity. The analyses are based on a German population based representative sample (N=2,041), using face-to-face-interviews. The confirmatory factor analysis indicates the best fit to the one-factor model including response bias on the negative worded items according to Hankins. Thus, the importance of methodical aspects for the dimensionality was emphasized. Moreover, the correlations of the different subscales of the two- and three-factor models with several external criteria (BDI, PHQ-2, SF-36, PHQ-Anxiety, SPIN) do not substantially differ. The preferred unidimensional model shows good psychometric properties. According to its associations with the external criteria under study, the GHQ-12 as a unidimensional measure seems to be a useful screening tool for the assessment of mental distress or a minor psychiatric morbidity with a main focus on depressive symptomatology.

A Head-to-Head Comparison of Big-Five Types and Traits in the Prediction of Social Attitudes

Abstract. Based on the recent findings that show evidence in favor of five rather than three prototypes in Big Five questionnaire data, the main aim of this study was to evaluate a five-cluster solution. The cluster solution is compared with a Big Five variable-centered approach regarding their relative utility in the concurrent prediction of social attitudes in an adult, nonstudent sample. In addition to the Big Five personality variables, we also assessed social attitudes (generalized prejudice, right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation) and resiliency. Performing head-to-head comparisons to evaluate the goodness of cluster-solutions, our study again provides strong evidence that the five-cluster solution is superior to the three-cluster solution. The results also suggest that in fair comparisons (e.g., dichotomized Big Five scores) the typological approach can compete with the dimensional approach in predicting criterion variables. Furthermore, we have been able to show that the typolog...

A Validation and Psychometric Examination of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS) in German Adolescents1

Summary: The present study examines the reliability (internal consistency) and the the factorial validity, as well as the construct validity and the criterion-oriented validity (criterion: Delinquent behavior) of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS; Arnett, 1994). The study analyzed a sample of German adolescents aged 14 to 16 years (N = 1236) who, in addition to the AISS, also completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the subscale Delinquent Behavior of the Youth Self-Report (YSR). The results, indeed, confirm the hypothesized two-factor structure of the AISS (novelty vs. intensity of stimulation), however, as indicated by modification indices and standardized expected parameter chances, some items had to be excluded from the model to provide an adequate fit for the data. Nevertheless, the internal consistencies of the shortened two-factor scale are considerably low, ranging from .46 to .58. As an index of construct validity, males scored higher than females on both the Intensity ...

Überprüfung der Anwendbarkeit des NEO-Fünf-Faktoren Inventars (NEO-FFI) bei Jugendlichen im Alter zwischen 14 und 16 Jahren

Zusammenfassung. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde uberpruft, inwieweit das NEO-Funf-Faktoren Inventar (NEO-FFI) auch fur Jugendliche geeignet ist. Die deutsche Fassung des Fragebogens von Borkenau und Ostendorf (1993) wurde einer Stichprobe von 1236 Schulerinnen und Schulern (14-16 Jahre) vorgegebenen und im Hinblick auf Reliabilitat, faktorielle Validitat sowie verschiedene Item- und Skalenkennwerte uberpruft. Mit Ausnahme der Skala “Vertraglichkeit“ zeigten sich dabei gute bis zufriedenstellende interne Konsistenzen (α = .79-.82). Die Skaleninterkorrelationen lagen im niedrigen Bereich (r ≥ |.32|). Die faktorielle Validitat des Verfahrens lies sich hingegen nur teilweise stutzen: Vor allem der Vertraglichkeitsfaktor zeigte nicht die erwartete Itemzusammensetzung, da auf diesem nur die Halfte der entsprechenden Skalenitems substanzielle Ladungen aufwiesen. Dieser Befund sowie weiterhin durchgefuhrte Itemanalysen verweisen darauf, das insgesamt zur adaquaten Erfassung der Dimensionen des Funf-Faktoren-Mod...

The construct validity of social inhibition and the type-D taxonomy

In contrast to the prognostic validity of the type-D personality, there is still little knowledge on the construct validity. In a sample of 102 healthy young adults the construct validity was analysed against the Big-Five dimensions, four of the 16 PF factors, and repressive emotion regulation. Social inhibition was associated with Apprehensiveness, and low scores in social competencies and self-deception. The three non-type-D clusters clearly differed; the restrained cluster emerged as opposite to the type-D cluster in nearly every personality dimension and type of emotion regulation. The article concludes that emotion regulation in socially inhibited persons deserves further investigation.

Domains of disgust sensitivity: revisited factor structure of the questionnaire for the assessment of disgust sensitivity (QADS) in a cross-sectional, representative German survey.

BackgroundDisgust sensitivity is defined as a predisposition to experiencing disgust, which can be measured on the basis of the Disgust Scale and its German version, the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Disgust Sensitivity (QADS). In various studies, different factor structures were reported for either instrument. The differences may most likely be due to the selected factor analysis estimation methods and the small non-representative samples. Consequently, the aims of this study were to explore and confirm a theory-driven and statistically coherent QADS factor structure in a large representative sample and to present its standard values.MethodsThe QADS was answered by N = 2473 healthy subjects. The respective households and participants were selected using the random-route sampling method. Afterwards, the collected sample was compared to the information from the Federal Statistical Office to ensure that it was representative for the German residential population. With these data, an exploratory Promax-rotated Principal Axis Factor Analysis as well as comparative confirmatory factor analyses with robust Maximum Likelihood estimations were computed. Any possible socio-demographic influences were quantified as effect sizes.ResultsThe data-driven and theoretically sound solution with the three highly interrelated factors Animal Reminder Disgust, Core Disgust, and Contamination Disgust led to a moderate model fit. All QADS scales had very good reliabilities (Cronbachs alpha) from .90 to .95. There were no age-differences found among the participants, however, the female participants showed remarkably higher disgust ratings.ConclusionsBased on the representative sample, the QADS factor structure was revised. Gender-specific standard percentages permit a population-based assessment of individual disgust sensitivity. The differences of the original QADS, the new solution, and the Disgust Scale - Revised will be discussed.

Die deutsche Version des AISS: Psychometrische Kennwerte und Befunde zur Reliabilität und Validität

Zusammenfassung: Als alternatives Mesinstrument zu der bekannten, in den letzten Jahren jedoch stark kritisierten Sensation Seeking Scale - Form Five (SSS-V) von Zuckerman et al. (1978) wurde von A...

Der Dresdner Körperbildfragebogen (DKB-35): Validierung auf der Basis einer klinischen Stichprobe

The Dresden Body Image Questionnaire (DKB-35) measures 5 dimensions of body image: vitality, self-acceptance, self-aggrandisement, physical closeness, and sexual fulfilment. This article presents data on the reliability and validity of the DKB-35. The sample consisted of 560 pa-tients with psychosomatic disorders. To analyse the factor structure, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. To examine the convergent validity, correlations between the DKB-35 scales and the Frankfurt Body Concept Scales (FKKS, [1]), the Narcissism Personality Inventory (NPI, [2]) and the self-esteem subscale of the Frankfurt Self-Concept Scales (FSKN, [3]) were computed. The 5 scales of the DKB-35 showed excellent reliability. Between the 5 DKB-35 scales and the corresponding scales of the FKKS, the NPI, and the FSKN, moderate correlations were found. The results confirm the reliability and validity of the DKB-35. Possible fields of applications and further developments are discussed.