A psychometric investigation of highly dependent adult children

ABSTRACT

This study established the psychometric properties of a new measure to assess the behavior of adults who are highly dependent on their parent(s), particularly in light of their capacity to function independently and whose behavior appears deviant even when compared to cultural norms. In the present study, these adults were labeled Highly Dependent Adult Children (HDAC). A 32-item HDAC Scale was constructed, based on a review of the behaviors typical of HDAC as reported in the relevant literature. It was found to have excellent internal reliability (Cronbach's alfa= .93; N= 665 adults) and good test-retest reliability (r= .84; one-week interval; N= 104 adults). A principal component analysis of the HDAC scale revealed six components alexithymia, blaming/inadequacy, default dependency, aggression, somatization, and limited socialization (N= 665). The HDAC overall scale sum (N= 104) was correlated strongly and positively with the passive-aggressive, borderline, paranoid, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, sadistic, antisocial, schizotypal, and depressive personality disorders scales of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory (CATI), and moderately and positively correlated with a CATI scale measuring executive dysfunction of the frontal lobes. The results of the study suggest that the behaviors associated with HDAC may be related to comorbid alexithymia, personality disorders, and executive dysfunction, and future research with the scale is warranted

RESUMEN

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