Measuring emotion socialization in families affected by pediatric cancer: Refinement and reduction of the Parents’ Beliefs about Children’s Emotions questionnaire

Abstract

The aim of this study is to conduct a multimethod psychometric reduction in the Parents' Beliefs about Children's Emotions (PBCE) questionnaire using an item response theory framework with a pediatric oncology sample. Participants were 216 pediatric oncology caregivers who completed the PBCE. The PBCE contains 105 items (11 subscales) rated on a 6-point Likert-type scale. We evaluated the PBCE subscale performance by applying a partial credit model in WINSTEPS. Sixty-six statistically weak items were removed, creating a 44-item PBCE questionnaire with 10 subscales and 3 response options per item. The refined scale displayed good psychometric properties and correlated .910 with the original PBCE. Additional analyses examined dimensionality, item-level (e.g. difficulty), and person-level (e.g. ethnicity) characteristics. The refined PBCE questionnaire provides better test information, improves instrument reliability, and reduces burden on families, providers, and researchers. With this improved measure, providers can more easily identify families who may benefit from psychosocial interventions targeting emotion socialization. The results of the multistep approach presented should be considered preliminary, given the limited sample size.

Measuring Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness in Clinically Depressed and Suicidal Youth: Refinement and Reduction of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire

“…The role of IRT in new instrument development and refinement has grown substantially over the last decade, with a greater number of studies examining the usefulness of IRT for developing psychological and health questionnaires (Beitra et al., ; Jenkinson, Fitzpatrick, & Garratt, ). This is the first study to examine the INQ using IRT methodology to evaluate psychometric properties using a sample of clinically depressed and suicidal youth and presents the most psychometrically robust version of the scale for this specific sample.…”

“…Our goal in eliminating redundant and statistically weaker items was to reduce the questionnaire length while maintaining the strong psychometric properties of the newly refined INQ established through IRT analyses. (Beitra et al, 2018;Jenkinson, Fitzpatrick, & Garratt, 2001). This is the first study to examine the INQ using IRT methodology to evaluate psychometric properties using a sample of clinically depressed and suicidal youth and presents the most psychometrically robust version of the scale for this specific sample.…”

“…IRT methodology is grounded on mathematical models that calculate performance on instruments based on individual ability or trait level (e.g., suicidality) and item qualities (e.g., difficulty of endorsing a specific item such as, “The people in my life would be better off if I were gone”; Embretson & Reise, ). IRT offers many advantages over classical test theory (CTT), which employs less sophisticated methodology based on the concepts of reliability and validity (for a review of differences between IRT and CTT see Beitra et al., ; Embretson, ; Embretson & Reise, ; Hambleton & Jones, ; Lord, ). IRT represents an important innovation in the field of measurement methodology that can be used to evaluate the psychometric properties of an existing scale and its items, such as the INQ.…”

“…Modern measurement theory, including IRT, has increasingly been used to develop, evaluate, and refine health and psychosocial measures (Beitra, El-Behadli, & Faith, 2018;Edelen & Reeve, 2007;Reeve et al, 2007). IRT methodology is grounded on mathematical models that calculate performance on instruments based on individual ability or trait level (e.g., suicidality) and item qualities (e.g., difficulty of endorsing a specific item such as, "The people in my life would be better off if I were gone"; Embretson & Reise, 2000).…”

“…INTERPERSONAL NEEDS QUESTIONNAIRE REFINEMENT validity (for a review of differences between IRT and CTT see Beitra et al, 2018;Embretson, 1996;Embretson & Reise, 2000;Hambleton & Jones, 1993;Lord, 1980). IRT represents an important innovation in the field of measurement methodology that can be used to evaluate the psychometric properties of an existing scale and its items, such as the INQ.…”