Psychometric validation of the Arthritis Helplessness Index in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective Helplessness is a relevant construct in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an unpredictable chronic illness with no known cure characterized by relapsing and remitting features. However, no measure of helplessness has been validated in this population. The present study examined the structural validity, reliability, and convergent validity of the Arthritis Helplessness Index, a measure initially developed for rheumatoid arthritis populations, in a sample of patients with SLE. Methods Patients with SLE ( N = 136) receiving medical care at a private hospital completed the Arthritis Helplessness Index and other self-report measures. The structural validity of the Arthritis Helplessness Index was examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated with Cronbach's coefficient alpha. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to examine convergent validity with measures of depression, anxiety and mastery. Results The five-item Arthritis Helplessness Index-Helplessness measure demonstrated a tenable factor structure (comparative fit index 0.98, root mean square error of approximation 0.06, standardized root mean residual 0.04). Internal consistency reliability was fair (α = 0.69). Convergent validity was evidenced by significant correlations with measures of depression, anxiety and mastery. Conclusion The five-item Arthritis Helplessness Index-Helplessness scale can confidently be used as a measure of helplessness in SLE.

The cross‐cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of a learned helplessness scale for maintenance hemodialysis patients in China (LHS‐MHD‐C)

“…According to the theory, the scale was split into two subscales: helplessness (reflecting the belief that the patient cannot control the disease) and internality (reflecting the belief that the patient can control the outcome). It has been widely used in some studies related to LH in patients with arthritis (Camacho et al, 2012; Lincoln et al, 2017), systemic lupus erythematosus (Gholizadeh et al, 2018), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Omachi et al, 2010), and so forth. The AHI has evolved into several variants, such as the Rheumatology Attitudes Index (RAI), modified Rheumatology Attitude Index (mRAI), and COPD Helplessness Index.…”

Factor analysis of the Korean version of the Illness Cognition Questionnaire for adolescents with chronic illness

“…Thus, it can reflect both the patient's ability to overcome the illness and continue developing or, conversely, to progress towards depression and lose meaning of life. There are other instruments for evaluating the sense of helplessness, acceptance and perceived benefits, associated with illness (Araujo et al, 2015; Gholizadeh et al, 2018; Leysen et al, 2015).…”