Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory for Early Adolescents

Abstract

The purposes of this methodological study were to factor analyze the short form of the Tilden Interpersonal Relationship Inventory (IPRI) for early adolescents, and to assess construct validity of the social support and conflict subscales with early adolescents. The sample consisted of 147 early adolescents, aged 12-14, who completed instrument packets in classrooms in a suburban middle school. Data obtained on the IPRI were subjected to principal components factor analysis with Varimax rotation. The two factors that emerged are consistent with the theories underlying the instrument. Factor I was social support, and had a coefficient alpha reliability of .90. Factor II was conflict, and had a coefficient alpha reliability of .86. Construct validity was assessed by testing hypotheses derived from theoretical propositions linking support or conflict to general humor, self-esteem, and symptom patterns; the results of the hypotheses were statistically significant and in the predicted direction. The findings indicate that the social support and conflict subscales of the IPRI have evidence of reliability and validity for early adolescents.

Psychometric properties of the interpersonal relationship inventory‐short form for active duty female service members

“…Within the research literature, coefficient alphas for the social support and conflict subscales have been consistently reported >.80 in adult samples (Anderson & Rayens, 2004; Bay, Hagerty, Williams, Kirsch, & Gillespie, 2002; Kane & Day, 1999). Similar results have been found in adolescent samples (Yarcheski et al, 2008). Tilden reported 2‐week, test–retest reliabilities as .91 for social support, .81 for conflict, and .84 for reciprocity.…”

“…The revised version contains the original 13‐item social support subscale and 13‐item conflict subscale but omits the 13‐item reciprocity subscale. When Yarcheski et al (2008) conducted PCA with orthogonal rotation on the IPRI‐SF in a sample of adolescents, the social support and social conflict components that emerged were consistent with the theoretical constructs underlying the instrument.…”

“…Furthermore, they were able to demonstrate that each of the three subscales reliably discriminated among groups who rated their physical health as poor, fair, good, or excellent. Also, Yarcheski et al (2008) added to the body of evidence by hypotheses testing the relationships among humor, self‐esteem, social support, and conflict. Moderate positive correlations were found between social support, humor, and self‐esteem and moderate negative correlations between conflict, humor, and self‐esteem.…”

“…The remaining five items from the reciprocity subscale loaded on Component I. Overall, this three‐component loading explained 47.5% of the variance in interpersonal relationships (Yarcheski et al, 2008). Similarly, Kane and Day (1999) used PCA with an orthogonal rotation on data from a sample of Australian adults and obtained similar double‐loading on some of the Component III items.…”

“…In their efforts to contribute to the theoretical development of social support, nurse scientists have developed several instruments to more precisely measure the concept of social support in community and clinical populations (Stewart & Tilden, 1995). One of these instruments, the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory (IPRI), developed by Tilden, Nelson, and May (1990a) to measure the costs and benefits of support and relationships has demonstrated psychometric consistency across several demographic and clinical samples (Kane & Day, 1999; Tilden, Hirsch, & Nelson, 1994; Yarcheski, Mahon, Yarcheski, & Hanks, 2008).…”