Abstract
Purpose
Cancer survivors frequently experience worry about a variety of topics, including fear of recurrence. However, general measures
of worry still require examination of reliability for this vulnerable population. This study utilized modern psychometric
methods to examine the reliability of a worry measure in women with breast or gynecologic cancer.
of worry still require examination of reliability for this vulnerable population. This study utilized modern psychometric
methods to examine the reliability of a worry measure in women with breast or gynecologic cancer.
Methods
Women with cancer (n = 332) completed the 16-item Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), which has an abbreviated 8-item version (PSWQ-A). Categorical
confirmatory factor analysis (CCFA) was used to determine the factor structure and item response theory (IRT) was used to
examine score reliability.
confirmatory factor analysis (CCFA) was used to determine the factor structure and item response theory (IRT) was used to
examine score reliability.
Results
CCFA supported a two-factor structure with 11 positively worded items and the 5 negatively worded items loading on different
factors. IRT analysis of the 11 positively worded items showed that each was contributing meaningful information to the overall
scores. The 11 positively worded items and the PSWQ-A produced the most reliable scores for levels of worry ranging from one
θ below to two θ above the mean.
factors. IRT analysis of the 11 positively worded items showed that each was contributing meaningful information to the overall
scores. The 11 positively worded items and the PSWQ-A produced the most reliable scores for levels of worry ranging from one
θ below to two θ above the mean.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-012-0253-0
- Authors
- Salene M. Wu, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210-1222, USA
- Tammy A. Schuler, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA
- Michael C. Edwards, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210-1222, USA
- Hae-Chung Yang, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210-1222, USA
- Brittany M. Brothers, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210-1222, USA
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343