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

Validating a fear-of-falling-related activity avoidance scale in lower limb prosthesis users

BACKGROUND

Limited available data suggest that fear of falling (FoF) may be common among lower limb prosthesis users (LLPUs) and associated with negative rehabilitation outcomes. The impact of FoF on outcomes may be exacerbated when fear leads to self-imposed declines in activity. There is a need to identify the validity of fear-of-falling-related activity avoidance scales in LLPUs.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the convergent, discriminant, and known-group construct validity of the modified Survey of Activities and FoF in the Elderly (mSAFE) for LLPUs. Secondarily, we sought to determine if the mSAFE scale could be reduced without losing information regarding construct validity.

DESIGN

Online survey.

SETTING

Not applicable.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-nine persons with unilateral or bilateral amputation at the transtibial or transfemoral level, with ≥6 months experience using a definitive prosthesis for activities other than transfers.

INTERVENTION

Participants completed an online survey that consisted of the mSAFE and questions to assess FoF (yes/no), fear-of-falling-related activity avoidance (yes/no), as well as previously validated scales capturing related and unrelated constructs. T-tests were used to compare mSAFE score between yes/no respondents for known-group construct validity. Correlations between mSAFE and previously validated surveys assessed convergent and discriminant validity. Analyses were repeated on a reduced number of mSAFE items following a redundancy analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Not applicable.

RESULTS

Significant correlation coefficients of |0.440-0.825| were found for convergent validity with evidence of known-group construct validity (p < .021 for all comparisons). There was evidence for discriminant validity, with non-significant associations for two-of-three correlations. Results from validity analyses for a shortened 6-item mSAFE were similar to that for the full scale.

CONCLUSION

This study provided initial evidence regarding validity of the mSAFE as a measure to assess fear-of-falling-related activity avoidance in LLPUs. A 6-item scale may be appropriate if the full scale would be taxing or time-consuming.

Psychometric Properties of the Slovenian Version of Brief Sensation Seeking Scale

Sensation seeking (SS) is a psychobiological personality trait characterized by an individual's propensity to engage in various forms of risk-taking behavior. The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8) is a widely used instrument for assessing SS that has been translated into several languages. However, only outdated and non-validated questionnaires have been used to measure SS in the Slovenian population. The aim of this study was to translate and psychometrically validate the Slovenian version of the BSSS-8. A total of 363 participants aged between 14 and 65 years completed the translated BSSS-8 and the questionnaire on drug abuse. The scale demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α=0.81) and a unidimensional factorial structure as revealed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The multigroup CFA showed gender-specific measurement invariance. In the nomological network, SS was positively associated with drug-related variables. The Slovenian version of the BSSS-8 scale is a short and simple instrument to assess SS for research and epidemiological purposes.

Workers' Sensation Seeking Matters: Development and Validation of the Need for Sensations at Work Scale (NSWS)

Although sensation seeking (SS) may be a highly relevant trait in the occupational context, it is still understudied in the field of work and organizational psychology. Probably, one reason is the lack of an appropriate SS instrument for the work context. We therefore developed a scale that measures work-related SS. Results based on a sample of 304 workers provided evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of the instrument. In an independent sample of 271 workers, confirmatory factor analyses supported a bifactor structure with a global SS factor and three specific domain factors (tension seeking, adrenaline seeking, and heartbeat increase seeking). Based on bifactor indices, essential unidimensionality of the instrument could be assumed. Work-related SS was positively associated with increasing challenging job demands, and a moderating effect of task variety on the relationship between work-related SS and job satisfaction was found. SS was not associated with the number of past job terminations. Overall, the findings indicate that SS may be relevant with regard to workers' proactive work behaviors and job attitudes. The Need for Sensations at Work Scale (NSWS) now provides a promising measurement instrument to further investigate SS in the work context.

Testing the Associations Between Adult Playfulness and Sensation Seeking: A SEM Analysis of Librarians and Police Officers

Playfulness is an understudied personality trait in adults. We examined the relationships between facets of adult playfulness and sensation seeking (SS) in distant vocational groups, namely, librarians (N = 339) and police officers (N = 399). First, manifest and latent group comparisons (measurement invariance [MI] analysis) showed that police officers were higher in SS than librarians, while we found no group differences for playfulness. Second, structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses showed that playfulness was widely positively related to SS, and findings were replicated across groups. However, the effects were of small to moderate size, and playfulness and SS shared between 4 and 22% variance. Our findings indicate that playfulness is not redundant with SS. Our study extends the understanding of adult playfulness by clarifying its overlap and distinctiveness from SS.

The Measure Matters

Abstract. Several inventories have been developed to measure sensation seeking (SS), and each of these inventories has been based on an individual theoretical concept of the construct. However, most studies assessing SS disregarded the large theoretical diversity and have treated the measures as interchangeable. The goal of this research was to identify common and distinctive dimensions of SS across the different measures. Subsequent goals were to reveal similarities and differences in what is measured by the various subscales, to provide differential correlates of these dimensions, and thereby to analyze which of the subscales can or should not be used interchangeably. We administered the five most relevant SS measures ( Sensation Seeking-Scales Form V [SSS-V], Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking [AISS], Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking [NISS], the Impulsive Sensation Seeking [ImpSS] scale, and the Novelty Seeking scale) to a sample of adolescents ( N = 318) in a cross-sectional design. Second-order factor analyses of the measures’ subscales revealed three distinct facets: impulsive sensation seeking, intensity seeking, and stimulation seeking. The specific correlational patterns between the facets and external measures of impulsiveness, the Big Five, and social desirability supported the factorial differentiation. We characterize the necessary distinctions between the facets of the SS measures and recommend to not use them interchangeably. The best indicators of each SS measurement facet are discussed.

Development and validation of two measures of emotional contrast avoidance: The contrast avoidance questionnaires

The Contrast Avoidance (CA) model (Newman & Llera, 2011) proposed that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) fear sharp emotional shifts (or contrasts), such as the shift from a pleasant or neutral state to one of sudden distress following a negative event. Further, the model suggests that chronic worry is employed by those with GAD to sustain negative emotionality as a means to avoid sudden shifts into negativity. The model has received empirical support; however, no validated measure exists to assess CA tendencies. In this paper we developed and tested two measures of CA: one focusing on worry, and another examining broader mechanisms of CA that could be used test whether CA is applicable to other disorders. In Study 1, Part 1, we used 3 samples of participants (each N=410) to perform item reduction, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. In Study 1, Part 2, we performed tests of construct validity. In Study 2, we used a new sample (N=126) to determine test-retest reliability. All data point to the strong psychometric properties of the CA questionnaires and their relationship to GAD. Both measures distinguished between participants reporting clinical levels of GAD symptoms and nonanxious controls, demonstrating their utility as complementary measures of CA tendencies.

International relocation mobility readiness and its antecedents

Purpose

– International relocation for work reasons implies uncertainty and stress, resulting in high expatriate failure rates. Hence, organizations should consider employee’s international relocation mobility readiness (IRMR) in selection processes. The purpose of this paper is to identify personal as well as social antecedents of IRMR.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were gathered by an online survey (n=273 German employees) and analyzed using SEM.

Findings

– SEM results indicate that attitudinal (boundaryless mindset), biographical (previous international work experience) and social variables (the perceived social endorsement of international relocation mobility) are positively related to IRMR. The positive relationship between personality variables (uncertainty tolerance, proactive personality) and IRMR is mediated by boundaryless mindset.

Research limitations/implications

– The sampling method applied limits the generalization of the results.

Practical implications

– Results can be applied in personnel selection to find employees with a strong IRMR. Thus, expatriate failure rates could be reduced.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that addressed personal as well as social antecedents of IRMR.

The Tendency to Fall for Distracting Information While Making Judgments

Despite much research on thinking biases such as the representativeness, availability, and anchoring heuristics, a psychometrically sound measurement instrument for assessing the degree of heuristic thinking is still missing. Therefore, it was the goal of this study to develop and validate a new test to assess the degree of heuristic thinking associated with three particular thinking heuristics (i.e., the representativeness, availability, and anchoring heuristics). The resulting Objective Heuristic Thinking Test (OHTT) was evaluated with regard to its internal consistency, factor structure, construct validity, and stability in an internet sample (N = 300) and an independent laboratory sample (N = 55). Exploratory factor analyses resulted in three latent factors that represented the three OHTT subscales (i.e., representativeness, availability, and anchoring factors). Results revealed a low to sufficient internal consistency for each of the three scales. Further analyses indicated convergent correlations of the OHTT scales with related constructs such as field-independency. Furthermore, good stability of the test scores was shown. Conclusions are drawn regarding possible future applications of the OHTT as a promising tool for studying the origins of heuristic thinking processes.

The Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking (NISS)

Based on the conception of sensation seeking as a need rather than a temperamental trait ( Hammelstein, 2004 ), we present a new assessment method, the Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking (NISS), which is considered to assess a motivational disposition. Three studies are presented: The first examined the factorial structure and the reliability of the German versions of the NISS; the second study compared the German and the English versions of the NISS; and finally, the validity of the NISS was examined in a nonclinical study and compared to the validity of conventional methods of assessing sensation seeking (Sensation Seeking Scale – Form V; SSS-V). Compared to the SSS-V, the NISS shows better reliability and validity in addition to providing new research possibilities including application in experimental areas.

The influence of depression and other co-occurring conditions on treatment outcomes for problem gamblers: a cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influence of co-occurring conditions on gambling treatment outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective cohort study of problem gamblers. Participants were recruited from consecutive referrals to a gambling therapy service in 2008. Inclusion criteria were: (i) assessed as a problem gambler based on a screening interview including DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling, and (ii) suitable for admission to a treatment program. Cognitive-behavioural therapy was based on graded exposure-to-gambling urge. One-to-one treatment was conducted with 1-hour sessions weekly for up to 12 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Problem gambling screening and co-occurring conditions including depression, anxiety and alcohol use.

RESULTS

Of 127 problem gamblers, 69 were males (54%), mean age was 43.09 years, and 65 (51%) reported a duration of problem gambling greater than 5 years. Median time for participants' enrolment in the study was 8.9 months. Results from mixed effects logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals with higher depression levels had a greater likelihood (13% increase in odds [95% CI, 1%-25%]) of problem gambling during treatment and at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Addressing depression may be associated with improved treatment outcomes in problem gambling; conversely, treatment of problem gambling improves affective instability. We therefore recommend a dual approach that treats both depression and problem gambling.

Treatment outcomes and predictors of drop out for problem gamblers in South Australia: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Recent prevalence studies in Australia, the USA and Canada have estimated 1-2% of the adult population meet the diagnostic criteria for problem or pathological gambling. The Statewide Gambling Therapy Service (SGTS) provides treatment for problem gamblers in key metropolitan and rural regions in South Australia. The aims of this study were two-fold: to analyse the short and mid-term outcomes following treatment provided by SGTS and to identify factors associated with treatment drop-out.

METHOD

A cohort of treatment seeking problem gamblers was recruited through SGTS in 2008. Repeated outcome measures included problem gambling screening, gambling related cognitions and urge. Treatment drop-out was defined as participants attending three or less treatment sessions, whilst potential predictors of drop-out included perceived social support , anxiety and sensation-seeking traits.

RESULTS

Of 127 problem gamblers who participated in the study, 69 (54%) were males with a mean age of 43.09 years (SD = 12.65 years) and with 65 (52%) reporting a duration of problem gambling greater than 5 years. Follow up time for 50% of participants was greater than 8.9 months and, overall, 41 (32%) participants were classified as treatment drop-outs. Results indicated significant improvement over time on all outcome measures except alcohol use for both treatment completers and drop-outs, although to a lesser extent for the treatment drop-out group. A significant predictor of treatment drop-out was sensation-seeking traits.

CONCLUSION

These results will inform future treatment planning and service delivery, and guide research into problem gambling including aspects of treatment drop-out.

Inventário de Arnett de Busca de Sensações (AISS): testando diferentes modelos fatoriais

O estudo do traço de busca de sensações permite explicar diversos comportamentos de risco. Considerando sua relevância e a ausência de medida específica no Brasil, decidiu-se adaptar o Inventário de Arnett de Busca de Sensações. Este é formado por 20 itens, medindo dois fatores: novidade e intensidade. Participaram da pesquisa 279 estudantes do ensino médio de escolas particulares e públicas, com idade média de 17 anos, igualmente distribuídos quanto ao sexo, provenientes de João Pessoa (n=108) e Teresina (n=171). Por meio de análises fatoriais confirmatórias, testaram-se quatro modelos, segundo o número de fatores (um ou dois) e itens (12 ou 20). Os resultados mostraram que o modelo bifatorial reduzido apresentou melhores índices de ajuste. Os fatores e a pontuação total desse instrumento apresentaram consistência interna aceitável, estando correlacionados com sexo e idade dos participantes. Tais resultados justificam a utilização dessa medida em estudos futuros.

Social desirability effects in driver behavior inventories

PROBLEM

The use of lie scales to control for common method variance in driver behavior inventories has been very limited. Given that such questionnaires often use self-reported safety variables as criteria, and have social implications, the risk of artefactual associations is high.

METHOD

A questionnaire containing scales from several well known driver inventories that have been claimed to predict traffic accident involvement was distributed three times to a group of young drivers in a driver education program, as well as a random group twice. The Driver Impression Management scale (DIM) was used to control for socially desirable responding.

RESULTS

For all behavior scales, the correlation with the DIM scale was substantial. If a scale correlated with self-reported crashes, the amount of predictive power was more than halved when social desirability was controlled for. Results were similar for both samples and all waves. The predictive power of the behavior scales was not increased when values were averaged over questionnaire waves, as should have been the case if the measurement and predictive power were valid. Results were similar for self-reported penalty points. The present results indicate that even the most well-known and accepted psychometric scales used in driver research are susceptible to social desirability bias.

DISCUSSION

As social desirability is only one of a number of common method variance mechanisms that can create artefactual associations, and the great popularity of the self-report methodology, the problem for traffic research is grave.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

Organizations that fund traffic safety research need to re-evaluate their policies regarding what methods are acceptable. The use of self-reported independent and dependent variables can lead to directly misleading results, with negative effects on traffic safety.