Abstract. The aim of the present study was to examine the construct and cross-cultural validity of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS; Beck, Weissman, Lester, & Trexler, 1974 ). Beck et al. applied exploratory Principal Components Analysis and argued that the scale measured three specific components (affective, motivational, and cognitive). Subsequent studies identified one, two, three, or more factors, highlighting a lack of clarity regarding the scale’s construct validity. In a large clinical sample, we tested the original three-factor model and explored alternative models using both confirmatory and exploratory factor analytical techniques appropriate for analyzing binary data. In doing so, we investigated whether method variance needs to be taken into account in understanding the structure of the BHS. Our findings supported a bifactor model that explicitly included method effects. We concluded that the BHS measures a single underlying construct of hopelessness, and that an incorporation of method effects consolidates previous findings where positively and negatively worded items loaded on separate factors. Our study further contributes to establishing the cross-cultural validity of this instrument by showing that BHS scores differentiate between depressed, anxious, and nonclinical groups in a Hungarian population.
Background: Current research on suicide prevention revealed that deficits in problem solving skills belong to the most important cognitive risk factors of suicide vulnerability. Poor problem solving skills are associated with depression, hopelessness, maladaptive coping and an increased risk of suicidality. Evidence suggests that good problem solving protects against depression or hopelessness and improvements in problem solving skills can contribute to the prevention of suicide attempts. Problem solving training (PST) as a low intensity brief cognitive-behavioural intervention can be effective in suicide prevention also.Aims: our main aim was to accomplish the cultural adaptation of the PST in group format to improve access to evidence based low intensity psychosocial interventions for patients with attempted suicide in order to prevent further attempts. The second aim was to assess changes in problem solving skills, depression, hopelessness and negative thinking style after the intervention.Methods: Subjects were outpatients with major depression (N=90) with attempted suicide in their psychiatric history. The procedure included a manual-based 12-week outpatient problem solving training in group format (G-PST). Measure administered before and after the intervention: Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Paykel Life Events Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Mean-Ends Problem Solving Test.Results: patients showed very significant improvements in problem-solving skills, including planful problem solving, problem analysis and seeking social support. The level of depression and hopelessness as well as the negative evaluation of stressful life events were found to decrease significantly after the G-PST.Conclusions: the findings indicate that G-PST is an effective low-intensity brief intervention which contributes significantly to the improvements of modifiable risk factors of suicide.
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