The Pain Catastrophizing Scale: further psychometric evaluation with adult samples.

Previous studies with undergraduates have provided support for the reliability and oblique three-factor structure of a new scale, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). We examined the reliability and validity of the PCS in adult community and pain outpatient samples. The PCS showed a high internal consistency in both groups. Using data from the community sample, confirmatory factor analyses showed that the PCS taps a single construct characterized by three related dimensions. Gender differences were obtained on the PCS total score in the community and the outpatient samples. The analyses also showed significant differences between the community and the outpatient samples on the PCS total and subscales. Overall, the results showed strong evidence of criterion-related, concurrent, and discriminant validity for the PCS in the community sample. Limitations of the present study are discussed.

The pain behavior check list (PBCL): psychometric properties in a college sample.

The Pain Behavior Check List (PBCL) was designed to assess the frequency of four dimensions of pain behavior: distorted ambulation, affective distress, facial/audible expressions, and seeking help. This study evaluated theoretical factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the PBCL in a nonclinical college sample. Results provided support for the four-factor oblique model, compared to the one-factor and the four-factor orthogonal models. The PBCL total and subscales showed satisfactory internal consistency. Support for convergent validity was demonstrated by high correlations between the PBCL and several measures of pain behavior and with other pain indices. In addition, results of the confirmatory factor analyses suggested that self-report measures of pain can be differentiated from self-report measures of anxiety and depression.

Systematic evaluation of psychometric properties of the Cognition Checklist with college students.

This study included revision and systematic examination of the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Cognition Checklist. Two separate samples of college undergraduates participated. Analysis showed that all the models reported previously in the literature fitted the data poorly for Sample 1 (n = 220). Principal components and maximum likelihood exploratory analyses of the responses of the 220 students yielded two moderately correlated factors. Using data from Sample 2 (n = 288), LISREL confirmatory factor analyses showed that the two-factor oblique model provided adequate fit to the observed data. Estimates of internal consistency were .88 and .71. Preliminary normative, convergent, and divergent validity data are reported. In addition, directions for 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.