Objective
The Interpersonal‐Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) posits two constructs (thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB)) contribute to suicide ideation. These constructs are typically measured by the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ); however, available INQ versions have demonstrated poor psychometric properties with youth. This study examined the INQ using Item Response Theory (IRT) to refine and reduce the scale for clinically depressed and suicidal youth.
Methods
Participants were 378 youth (Age M (SD) = 14.78 (1.41), 82.54% female) who completed the INQ. The INQ contains 25 items across two subscales (i.e., TB and PB) rated on a 7‐point Likert‐type scale. Rating scale performance, dimensionality, model fit, and instrument‐level statistics were examined using IRT methodology. Post hoc analyses were performed to further reduce the scale.
Results
The INQ was reduced from 25 to 10 items (five per subscale), and response options were refined to four choices. Correlations between original and IRT‐refined items were large (r = .97 for PB; r = .98 for TB). Additional item‐level (e.g., fit, difficulty) and instrument‐level (e.g., dimensionality) characteristics were examined.
Conclusions
The newly refined INQ resulted in improved scale reliability and validity. The psychometrically improved INQ can assist clinicians and researchers identify adolescents at risk of experiencing suicide ideation.
Objective
To explore posttraumatic growth (PTG) in pediatric patients who have undergone solid organ transplant (SOT) and their caregivers, and to examine potential correlates of PTG.
Method
Youth and young adults with a history of SOT (heart, kidney, liver) at least 1 month prior to participation and caregivers completed measures of PTG, demographic, and medical factors. In total, 59 youth (M = 12.68 years, SD = 1.91), 21 young adults (M = 19.37, SD = 0.82), and 95 caregivers (M = 37.95 years, SD = 9.37) participated.
Results
Overall, 67% of youth, 76% of young adults, and 89% of caregivers reported PTG within the medium to very high range. Appreciation of Life was the highest PTG subscale across all groups. Youth and caregiver PTG scores were significantly positively correlated. Religious affiliation and religious coping were positively associated with PTG for caregivers, and the relationship yielded large effect sizes for young adults. Caregivers of children with kidney transplants endorsed lower PTG than other organ types and caregivers of children who had an acute medical condition endorsed greater PTG than caregivers of children who had chronic illness.
Conclusion
Findings suggest the pediatric SOT experience can yield positive changes such as a greater appreciation of life. Although small sample sizes may have led to reduced power for detecting significant findings for some analyses, results suggest religious, medical, and parent–child relationship factors are likely related to PTG in pediatric SOT and warrant future investigation.
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