University of Twente Student Theses
Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Generic Sense of Ability to Adapt Scale in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Hering, Annelie (2021) Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Generic Sense of Ability to Adapt Scale in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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| Abstract: | Background: Adaptation is fundamental when facing challenges or new life conditions. Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the need to adapt to new life conditions has proven its relevance. Even though adaptation processes have shown its positive impact on mental health it is still an emerging concept that lacks validated measures. The present study aims to validate the recently developed Generic Sense of Ability to Adapt Scale (GSAAS) among a non-clinical population who has experienced lowered well-being due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study draws on baseline data from a randomized controlled trial about the efficacy of a gratitude app. The GSAAS and scales concerning depressive symptoms, well-being and positive reinterpretation and growth were scored by Dutch speaking individuals (N = 849). To evaluate the GSAAS, its factor structure, reliability and validity was explored. Construct validity was assessed by testing for correlations between the GSAAS and the constructs mentioned above. Incremental validity was investigated by exploring how much variability in well- being scores can be explained by the GSAAS beyond the scale of positive reinterpretation and growth. Results: Eigenvalues of the items, factor loadings (>.40) and a significant goodness of fit test (X2 (35, N = 849) = 242.39, p < .001) showed the appropriate-ness to retain one factor. Further, the GSAAS has high internal consistency (α = .90) and scores of the GSAAS were moderately to strongly correlated with the scores of convergent measures. Incremental validity showed that the GSAAS explained additional 16% of the variance in well-being scores beyond the scale of positive reinterpretation and growth. Conclusions: The study has proven that the GSAAS is a valid and reliable tool to measure the generic ability to adapt within the present sample. Having a valid measure for this competence is of use for clinical and research settings. It can be used as outcome measure to test for the efficacy of interventions that are in development or used in practice. Further, the GSAAS can strengthen and facilitate the evaluation of theories and models of adaptation. However, limitations of the study concerning biases due to the study design and recruitment processes need to be acknowledged. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/88328 |
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