TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Life Attitude Schedule (LAS-C) in a sample of Taiwanese adolescents
AU - Chang, Hsiu Ju
AU - Wu, Chiung Jane
AU - Chen, Tzen Wen
AU - Cheng, Andrew Tai Ann
AU - Lin, Kuan Chia
AU - Rong, Jiin Ru
AU - Lee, Hsin Chien
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI-EX98-9821PC) in Taiwan.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Background: Although prior research has proposed that several risk factors are conceptually and positively related to suicidal behavior, researchers have also suggested that suicide may be multifaceted. The Life Attitude Schedule (LAS) measures a broad range of suicide-related behaviors, including life-enhancing and life-threatening behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to translate the LAS into Chinese and evaluate the psychometric properties of the new version (LAS-C). Design: A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used. Setting: Data were collected from high schools in the city of Taipei in northern Taiwan. Participants: A convenience sample of 1492 high school students was recruited from five high schools in Taipei. Methods: We used the Multi-Health Systems (MHS) translation policy to guide the translation process. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency (represented by Cronbach's α coefficients) and test-retest (represented by intraclass correlation). Validity was demonstrated by content, convergent, divergent, concurrent, and contrast group comparison. Confirmatory factor analysis was further used to examine the theoretical model and to support construct validity. Results: The Cronbach's α coefficient for the whole scale of the LAS-C and its subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.91. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.76 to 0.89 on the whole scale and its subscales, and were all statistically significant, at least at the p< 0.05 level, indicating good stability over a three-week period. Validity was supported by a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.99, convergent, divergent, current, and contrast group comparison validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical model, further providing solid evidence of construct validity. Conclusions: The LAS-C has proper psychometric properties. Future studies must be conducted to shorten the items to form a briefer version.
AB - Background: Although prior research has proposed that several risk factors are conceptually and positively related to suicidal behavior, researchers have also suggested that suicide may be multifaceted. The Life Attitude Schedule (LAS) measures a broad range of suicide-related behaviors, including life-enhancing and life-threatening behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to translate the LAS into Chinese and evaluate the psychometric properties of the new version (LAS-C). Design: A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used. Setting: Data were collected from high schools in the city of Taipei in northern Taiwan. Participants: A convenience sample of 1492 high school students was recruited from five high schools in Taipei. Methods: We used the Multi-Health Systems (MHS) translation policy to guide the translation process. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency (represented by Cronbach's α coefficients) and test-retest (represented by intraclass correlation). Validity was demonstrated by content, convergent, divergent, concurrent, and contrast group comparison. Confirmatory factor analysis was further used to examine the theoretical model and to support construct validity. Results: The Cronbach's α coefficient for the whole scale of the LAS-C and its subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.91. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.76 to 0.89 on the whole scale and its subscales, and were all statistically significant, at least at the p< 0.05 level, indicating good stability over a three-week period. Validity was supported by a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.99, convergent, divergent, current, and contrast group comparison validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical model, further providing solid evidence of construct validity. Conclusions: The LAS-C has proper psychometric properties. Future studies must be conducted to shorten the items to form a briefer version.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Life Attitude Scale
KW - Psychometric properties
KW - Suicide proneness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955521245&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.10.010
DO - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.10.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 21176904
AN - SCOPUS:79955521245
SN - 0020-7489
VL - 48
SP - 590
EP - 600
JO - International Journal of Nursing Studies
JF - International Journal of Nursing Studies
IS - 5
ER -
