Measuring Personal Growth in Partners of Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A New Scale

摘要

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the development and validation of a personal growth scale in caregiving partners of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: Two studies were conducted: one to identify possible constructs and items, and another to and examine the instrument's psychometric poperties. Study 1 consisted of focus groups of 39 partners of patients with MS, expert reviews, and qualitative methodology for identifying themes. In Study 2, the items generated were administered to a new sample (N = 315). and the instrument's psychometric properties were assessed. Results: Study 2 sample was suitable for principal component analysis (PCA), and PCA was performed with oblique rotation. A 6-component solution was deemed most parsimonious and interpretable. Subscales were formed and labeled as follows: Positivity, Appreciation. Acceptance, Insight, Independence, and Spirituality. Reliability analysis of the subscales showed acceptable to high internal consistency. A secondary PCA was performed on mean subscale scores. Five of the six subscales clustered together along one dimension, and the sixth, Spirituality, was found to be distinct as represented in a loading plot. This subscale was retained as an independent measure; the remaining subscale scores were summed to create a total score. Measures of convergent and discriminant validity evaluated against existing instruments yielded findings in the expected directions. Conclusions: The dimensionality and structure of personal growth in caregiving partners of persons with MS were delineated in a novel instrument. Future studies should confirm its structure, establish classification criteria. and standardize it as an assessment tool.