[Polish version of the questionnaire for measuring post-traumatic stress disorders PTSD-8 in studies of four groups of medical professions]

BACKGROUND

There are several techniques to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms that correspond to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classification of mental disorders. This study aimed at testing the reliability and construct validity of the Polish version of the PTSD-8. The results obtained in four professional groups of healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, paramedics, other occupations) were compared.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The PTSD-8 questionnaire includes questions on stress reactions manifested by intrusion (4 items), avoidance (2 items), or hypervigilance (2 items). Respondents were asked about their reactions to the traumatic work-related experiences occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide survey conducted in 2022 included 2303 employees, among whom 746 had such an experience and completed the PTSD-8 questionnaire.

RESULTS

Based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results, it was shown that a single-factor model is acceptable, but under the condition of modification by correlation of random errors at selected observable variables. The reliability of this scale is very good (McDonald's Ω = 0.890), and the goodness-of-fit of the overall CFA model is confirmed by: CMIN/DF = 3.969, NFI = 0.982, RFI = 0.964, IFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.983, RMSEA = 0.063. The model estimated for female nurses has the best psychometric properties. In the study group of 2303 respondents, 16.76% met the criteria for PTSD, accounting for 52.74% of those who were traumatized by a work-related event. The PTSD-8 index is M±SD 20.01±5.55 pts (range: 8-32 pts). The PTSD-8 index is significantly higher in women than in men, and higher in nurses compared to other professions. However, the differences between professional groups are significant only for women, and the largest when comparing female physicians and nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The analyses confirmed the rationale of further implementation of the PTSD-8 questionnaire in Poland, both as a tool for identifying PTSD and for studying the severity of the syndrome, its determinants and health effects. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(1):45-56.

Polish adaptation and validation of the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP-2L)

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the research was to present the Polish adaptation and validation of the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP-2L) by Miller et al. (1995). The SIP-2L is a popular selfreport measure used to assess the negative consequences of alcohol use in 5 domains with negative consequences: physical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, social and impulse control. The adapted version of SIP assesses lifetime consequences of using alcohol.

METHODS

A total of 256 participants diagnosed with alcohol dependence (71 women and 185 men) completed an assessment battery that included SIP-2L and Polish versions of AUDIT, MAST and KOEP-R, which is a modified Polish adaptation of CEAQ - Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the hypothesized 5-factor model produced the best fit. Reliability of the entire method (Cronbach's α = 0.868) and for all factors was satisfactory, as was convergent validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support that the Polish version of the SIP-2L has good psychometric properties and can successfully assess the consequences of drinking among patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence.

Exploring the associations between the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) and the higher-order personality factors

Morningness-eveningness refers to individual differences in the sleep-wake cycle. Research indicates that morningness-eveningness is associated with the Big Five (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness) and the Big Two (alpha-stability, beta-plasticity) personality factors. However, the latter has not yet been tested within the multidimensional approach to morningness-eveningness. In the present study, we have adapted the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) to Polish (https://osf.io/rcxb5) to explore the associations between its subscales (morning affect, eveningness, distinctness) and the Big Two personality traits in a sample of 1106 participants (559 women and 547 men) aged 18 to 55 (M = 36.26, SD = 9.90). In bivariate correlations, morning affect was positively related to alpha-stability and beta-plasticity, distinctness was correlated negatively with alpha-stability and beta-plasticity, while eveningness was positively correlated only with beta-plasticity. Furthermore, the confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure of the Polish version of MESSi, while the associations with affect and the symptoms of depression and anxiety attested to its validity. Overall, the present study provides the first evidence for the associations between MESSi subscales and the Big Two personality traits, as well as shows a good fit of the three-factor structure of MESSi in the Polish population.

Adaptation and validation of Polish Version of Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL-48) by M.M. Linehan et al

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to develop the Polish version of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL-48) of Linehan et al. The questionnaire is a self-descriptive tool designed to measure six factors protecting against committing suicide: "Survival and Coping Beliefs", "Responsibility to Family", "Fear of Suicide", "Moral Objections", "Fear of Social Disapproval", "Child-Related Concerns". The original version of the method was characterized by good psychometric properties.

METHODS

A sample of 431 adults (236 women and 195 men), aged 18-65 years (mean age was 33 years, SD = 11.33), was recruited as a non-clinical group from various regions of Poland. The Beck's Depression Inventory, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised and Positivity Scale were also used to evaluate the construct validity of the RFL-48.

RESULTS

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported an assumed six-dimensional structure of the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.70 ("Fear of Suicide") to 0.95 ("Survival and Coping Beliefs") and amounted to 0.92 for the total score.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that the Polish adaptation of the RFL questionnaire by Linehan et al. has good psychometric characteristics and can be used in both research and clinical practice.

A Polish adaptation of the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) in older adults

OBJECTIVES

The paper presents the results of work on the Polish adaptation of the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS). It presents the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the tool.

METHODS

The research was quantitative in nature and it was carried out in a correlation scheme. The respondents completed a set of questionnaires. 880 subjects aged 60-80 years (M = 68.15; SD = 5.96) participated in the study. Apart from the SAWS six other psychological methods were used. The selection of measuring tools was purposeful.

RESULTS

The final Polish version of the SAWS consists of 40 items (including 36 diagnostic ones) that make up 5 dimensions of wisdom: (1) "Critical Life Experience", (2) "Emotional Regulation", (3) "Reminiscence and Reflectiveness",(4) "Openness" and (5) "Humor". The reliability index for the entire scale (36 items) was α = 0.92 (very high). Reliability values (Cronbach's α) for individual scales vary from α = 0.60 to α = 0.84. The validity of the scale was evaluated by means of confirmatory analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are consistent with the original version of the scale, thus it has been indicated that the Polish version of the SAWS fulfils the psychometric requirements for psychological tests. The scale can be applied in scientific research.

The Polish adaptation of the Revised NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol

In this paper, we introduce the Polish adaptation of the Revised NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Investigative Interview Protocol (2014). The protocol is an evidence-based method for interviewing child witnesses and crime victims. Compared with the Standard NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol (2008), the revised version includes strategies and techniques for providing emotional support to the interviewed child. This paper describes both the standard and the revised versions of the protocol, presents scientific evidence for its efficacy, and introduces the Polish language adaptation of the tool. The recipients of this methodological instrument could include judges and forensic psychology expert witnesses, who are to actively participate in interviewing child witnesses and victims under Article 185 of the Polish Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as students of law, psychology and criminology preparing to perform these roles in the future.

Osman et al

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to develop a Polish adaptation of the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) by A. Osman et al. The questionnaire is a self-descriptive measure of suicidal tendencies (suicidal behaviors, including ideation and attempts) composed of four questions.

METHODS

A total of 926 university and post-graduate students from Lodz (526 women and 400 men) were included in the adaptation study. In addition, the Beck's Depression Inventory, the Psychological Pain Scale by Holden et al. and the Purpose in Life (PIL) test by Crumbaugh and Maholick were used to evaluate the construct validity of the SBQ-R.

RESULTS

The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported an assumed onedimensional structure of the questionnaire, with satisfactory internal consistency, evaluated by Cronbach's alpha, equal to 0.83. The significant positive correlations were observed between the questionnaire scores and level of depression and psychological pain, while a negative correlation between the questionnaire scores and purpose in life. Participants who had previously demonstrated suicidal behavior, those who reported suicidal thoughts and those from a family with a history of suicide attempts or alcohol addiction obtained a significantly higher score in the SBQ-R.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that the Polish adaptation of the SBQ-R by Osman et al. has good psychometric characteristics and can be considered in both research and clinical practice.

Assessment of frailty syndrome using Edmonton frailty scale in Polish elderly sample

The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and severity of the frailty syndrome assessed with the Edmonton Frailty Scale. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 382 patients (236 men and 146 women, mean age 71.9 years). The Edmonton Frailty Scale was administered during the patient's admission to the hospital. The Polish adaptation was performed using the standard methodology. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole Edmonton Frailty Scale was 0.709. The mean correlation between positions and the overall result was r = 0.180. There were no statistically significant differences between women and men in the area of Edmonton Frailty Scale mean score (p < 0.05). The socio-clinical analysis, showed statistically significant differences in the age of respondents, educational attainment, occupational activity, number of drugs taken and co-occurrence of chronic diseases. A higher values of the Edmonton Frailty Scale were indicated for individuals >70 years than for those <70 years (p < 0.001). The Edmonton Frailty Scale proved to be a reliable tool which may be used in the Polish population. The use of this questionnaire for frailty syndrome may be helpful in everyday clinical practice.

Polish Adaptation of the Psychache Scale by Ronald Holden and Co-workers

OBJECTIVES

The conducted study was aimed at making a Polish adaptation of the Scale of Psychache by Ronald Holden and co-workers. The scale is a self-assessment method which comprises 13 statements and is designed to assess subjectively experienced psychological pain.

METHODS

300 persons were examined - undergraduates and postgraduates of the University of Lodz and the Technical University of Lodz. The group of the study participants consisted of 185 women and 115 men. Moreover, there were examined 150 alcohol addicted men, 50 co-addicted women and 50 major depressive episode (MDE) patients.

RESULTS

The Polish version of the Scale is a reliable and valid tool. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis has proved the existence of one factor. The internal consistency, assessed on the basis of Cronbach's alpha, equalled 0.93. The method displays positive and statistically significant relationships to levels of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, anhedonia and negative relations to levels of optimism, life satisfaction, and positive orientation. Alcohol addicted men with presently diagnosed suicidal thoughts were characterised by a significantly higher level of psychological pain as compared to alcoholics without such thoughts. A higher level of psychache was also reported in people with depression who have a history of attempted suicide compared with those who have not attempted suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of the conducted adaptation works on the Psychache Scale speaks for recommending the method for scientific research and use in therapeutic practice.

Polish adaptation of three self-report measures of job stressors: the Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale, the Quantitative Workload Inventory and the Organizational Constraints Scale

AIM

The objective of the present study was to test the psychometric properties, reliability and validity of three job stressor measures, namely, the Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale, the Organizational Constraints Scale and the Quantitative Workload Inventory.

METHOD

The study was conducted on two samples (N = 382 and 3368) representing a wide range of occupations. The estimation of internal consistency with Cronbach's α and the test-retest method as well as both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were the main statistical methods.

RESULTS

The internal consistency of the scales proved satisfactory, ranging from 0.80 to 0.90 for Cronbach's α test and from 0.72 to 0.86 for the test-retest method. The one-dimensional structure of the three measurements was confirmed. The three scales have acceptable fit to the data. The one-factor structures and other psychometric properties of the Polish version of the scales seem to be similar to those found in the US version of the scales. It was also proved that the three job stressors are positively related to all the job strain measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The Polish versions of the three analysed scales can be used to measure the job stressors in Polish conditions.