Psychometric Characteristics of the German Values in Action Inventory of Strengths 120-Item Short Form.

The original Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) is an international 240 item validated self-report questionnaire measuring character strengths. A validated and reliable English 120-item short form (VIA-120) is available. However, there is limited information about the psychometric properties of the German VIA-120. This article addresses this gap and reports the reliability, validity and comparability of the German VIA-120 with the German VIA-240 version. Two independent samples were recruited: a general population sample (N = 1073, Sample 1) and a sample consisting of medical students and physicians (N = 685, Sample 2). Internal consistency of the VIA-120-scales ranged from α = .58 (modesty) to α = .87 (spirituality) in Sample 1 and α = .63 (honesty) to α = .90 (spirituality) in Sample 2. Intercorrelations between the scales of the 120-item version and the original 240-Items version (Sample 1) ranged from r = .52 (hope) to r = .89 (prudence). Criterion validity with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT) was demonstrated. The comparison of the factor structure between the original and the short form showed a good convergence (Tucker's Phi .93-.99 Sample 1, .95-.98 Sample 2). Overall, the German VIA-120 was reliable, showed good convergence with the German VIA-240 and thus presents a similar level of validity for the assessment of character strengths. This study provides the first indication that the VIA 120 short form is comparable regarding the validity and reliability of the original VIA 240-item version indicating its potential to be used in large scale research studies.

Supporting cardiac patient physical activity: a brief health psychological intervention.

BACKGROUND: One of the most important risk factors for coronary artery disease is physical inactivity. Health psychological research demonstrates the importance of planning for behaviour change success. Consequently, a health action process approach (HAPA) model-based design to support the uptake of physical activity was initiated for the first time in an acute cardiac ward. METHODS: For impact evaluation, a control group (CG) and an intervention group (IG) of coronary artery disease patients were compared in a controlled longitudinal study. Baseline assessment included socio-demographic variables, intentions regarding physical activity, and actual physical activity prior to the coronary artery disease event. Follow-up data were collected 2 and 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: In total, 193 patients participated in this controlled longitudinal study (63 ± 9 years; CG: N = 78; IG: N = 115). The IG reported a higher increase in physical activity (p < 0.05), intentions, and coping planning (p < 0.05), and also in action planning and control (p < 0.01) 2 months after discharge. Both CG and IG increased their physical activity 6 months after discharge to the point of no significant difference (p = 0.664). CONCLUSIONS: A HAPA model-based health psychological intervention on an acute cardiac ward is able to increase patients' physical activity over the short term. However, integration of follow-up interventions (preferable in cardiac rehabilitation settings) would be necessary to support sustained physical activity.

[Patterns of dysfunctional parenting styles and psychological disturbances in offspring]. / Muster dysfunktionaler Erziehungsstile und psychische Storungen im Erwachsenenalter.

OBJECTIVES: Dysfunctional parenting styles represent a risk factor for the development of psychological disturbances. The present study investigated the differential validity of the German language Fragebogen zur Erfassung dysfunktionaler Erziehungsstile (FDEB; Measurement of Parental Styles, MOPS) and determined whether different forms of psychological disorders are associated with specific patterns of parenting styles. METHODS: 145 inpatients, 108 outpatients and a control group of 633 representative individuals from the general population were investigated by adapting the FDEB. RESULTS: A comparison of dysfunctional parenting styles showed different distress levels within the diagnostic groups: Patients suffering from depression reported high levels of maternal indifference and over protectiveness together with an abusive rearing behavior on the part of both parents. Patients with anxiety disorders reported having overprotective mothers. Bulimic patients as well as those with personality disorders significantly exhibited stress in almost all areas. However, anorexic patients did not differ significantly from the control group, which appeared to be the least affected of all. CONCLUSION: The FDEB showed a satisfactory differential validity. There was evidence that specific patterns of dysfunctional parenting styles were associated with different diagnostic groups.

How do medical students value health on the EQ-5D? Evaluation of hypothetical health states compared to the general population.

BACKGROUND: Medical students gain a particular perspective on health problems during their medical education. This article describes how medical students value 10 hypothetical health states using the EQ-5D compared to the general population. METHODS: Based on a sample of 161 medical students (male: 41%) we compared valuations of 10 hypothetical EQ-5D health states collected in face to face interviews with the valuations of the general population. Self-reported health on the EQ-5D was also collected. RESULTS: Every third health state was valuated higher by the medical students compared to data of the general population. The differences were independent of the severity of the hypothetical health state. Concerning the self-reported health, the majority of the students (66%) reported no problems in the five EQ-5D domains (EQ-5D VAS M = 87.3 +/- 9.6 SD). However, when compared to an age-matched sample the medical students show significantly more problems in the area of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. CONCLUSION: Medical students have a tendency to value health states higher than the general public. Medical professionals should be continuously aware that their assessment of the patients health state can differ from the valuations of the general population.

[A dimensional diagnostic approach using the "Assessment of DSM-IV Personality Disorders (ADP-IV)" Questionnaire]. / Dimensionale Diagnostik mit dem Fragebogen zur Erfassung von DSM-IV-Persönlichkeitsstörungen (ADP-IV).

OBJECTIVES: The ADP-IV is a self-assessment instrument of personality disorders providing categorical as well as dimensional diagnoses. The German translation of the Dutch original has already shown sufficient reliability as well as a rather weak convergent validity of categorical diagnoses. This study investigates the validity of the dimensional assessment of personality disorders. METHODS: Four hundred patients and a community sample of 385 subjects completed the ADP-IV. A SCID-II interview and an expert consensus rating were also performed in 210 patients. Norms for patients and the community sample were calculated by using z-transformation. Receiver operator curves (ROC) were employed for the determination of cut-offs for categorical diagnoses on the basis of the dimensional scores. RESULTS: The ROC analyses resulted in negative predictive values of 99 % for the five most frequent personality disorders in the sample; in contrast, positive predictive values were low. CONCLUSIONS: The instrument is well suited for screening purposes, allowing for a reliable exclusion of personality disorders. For diagnosing personality disorders, however, clinical interviewing remains necessary. Norms and a dimensional personality disorder profile provide hints concerning the presence of pathological personality traits with respect to the reference group. The ADP-IV represents the only German-language questionnaire for the assessment of DSM-IV personality disorders which has been sufficiently validated. It is freely available on the internet at http://zmkweb.uni-muenster.de/einrichtungen/proth/dienstleistungen/psycho/diag/index.html.

[Validation of the "Assessment of DSM-IV Personality Disorders (ADP-IV)" Questionnaire]. / Validierung der deutschen Version des Fragebogens zur Erfassung von DSM-IV Persönlichkeitsstorungen (ADP-IV).

OBJECTIVES: The "Assessment of DSM-IV Personality Disorders (ADP-IV)" represents a 94-item questionnaire that allows for a categorical and dimensional assessment of the DSM-IV personality disorders. METHODS: Psychometric properties of the German ADP-IV were investigated in 400 psychotherapy outpatients and a community sample of 385 persons. The SCID-II interview and a standardised expert consensus rating were employed for the assessment of concurrent validity. RESULTS: The ADP-IV showed satisfactory reliability; the median Cronbach's alpha for the subscales was .76 (range .65-.87), the median retest reliability .79 (range .37-.88). Factor analysis revealed an 11-factor solution that explained 49.4% of the variance. The median correlation of the dimensional ADP-IV subscale scores with the SCID-II and the expert consensus ratings were .51 (range: .34-.72) and .44 (range: .27-.62), respectively. The kappas for the chance corrected agreement of categorical ADP-IV diagnoses with the SCID-II diagnoses and the expert ratings were .35 and .29 for any personality disorder and a median of .37 and .30 for the specific personality disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The ADP-IV shows satisfactory reliability and a validity that is comparable and partly superior to other self-rating instruments. The advantages of the instrument are its brevity, the inclusion of distress ratings, and the dimensional scoring that allows for the construction of detailed profiles of personality pathology. Moreover it is freely available in the internet: (http://zmkweb.uni-muenster.de/einrichtungen/proth/dienstleistungen/psycho/diag/index.html).