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. 2018 Dec;31(6):816-825.
doi: 10.1002/jts.22348.

Structural Validity of the World Assumption Scale

Vincent van Bruggen  1 , Peter M Ten Klooster  1 , Niels van der Aa  2 , Annemarie J M Smith  2 , Gerben J Westerhof  1 , Gerrit Glas  3
Affiliations

Structural Validity of the World Assumption Scale

Vincent van Bruggen et al. J Trauma Stress. 2018 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Chinese

The World Assumption Scale (WAS) is a frequently used measure in trauma research. The 32 items of the WAS are intended to represent eight assumptions about the benevolence of the world, the meaningfulness of events, and the worthiness of the self. Debate about the validity of the WAS is ongoing, particularly in terms of its empirical factor structure; some studies have confirmed a model of eight correlated factors whereas several other studies have not. The WAS items were administered to a clinical sample of patients who sought professional help because of posttraumatic complaints (n = 1,791) as well as a sample of healthcare professionals (n = 236). We split the clinical sample into three subsamples, then performed exploratory factor analysis using data from one subsample and tested the factor structure with confirmatory factor analysis using the other two subsamples. A consistent model of eight correlated factors was demonstrated, with almost all factors showing acceptable reliability, Cronbach's αs = .68-.84. We tested this factor model against data from the sample of healthcare professionals with increasingly stringent levels of invariance and found it to be scalar invariant (same structure, loadings, and thresholds). In a regression analysis, five factors showed significant associations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and two factors had unique associations with PTSD symptoms after we controlled for traumatic events: Self-Worth, β = -.31; and Luck, β = -.15. Future research should aim to distinguish between different assumptions and their individual influences on posttraumatic complaints.

Spanish Abstracts by Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET)

Validez estructural de la Escala de Supuestos acerca del Mundo (World Assumption Scale).

VALIDEZ ESTRUCTURAL DE LA ESCALA DE SUPUESTOS ACERCA DEL MUNDO.

La Escala de Supuestos acerca del Mundo (WAS en sus siglas en inglés) es una medida utilizada con frecuencia en la investigación del trauma. Los 32 ítems del WAS intentan representar ocho suposiciones sobre la benevolencia del mundo, el significado de los eventos y la dignidad del yo. El debate sobre la validez de la WAS está en curso, particularmente en términos de su estructura factorial empírica; algunos estudios han confirmado un modelo de ocho factores correlacionados, mientras que otros estudios no lo han hecho. Los ítems de WAS se administraron a una muestra clínica de pacientes que buscaron ayuda profesional debido a quejas postraumáticas (n = 1,791), así como una muestra de profesionales de la salud (n = 236).

Dividimos la muestra clínica en tres submuestras, luego realizamos un análisis factorial exploratorio utilizando datos de una submuestra y probamos la estructura factorial con un análisis factorial confirmatorio utilizando las otras dos submuestras. Se demostró un modelo consistente de ocho factores correlacionados, con casi todos los factores que muestran una confiabilidad aceptable, αs de Cronbach = .68 – .84. Probamos este modelo factorial con datos de la muestra de profesionales de la salud con niveles de invariancia cada vez más estrictos y se encontró que cumplía con la invarianza escalar (misma estructura, cargas y umbrales). En un análisis de regresión, cinco factores mostraron asociaciones significativas con los síntomas del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), y dos factores tuvieron asociaciones únicas con los síntomas de TEPT después de que controlamos los eventos traumáticos: autoestima, β = ‐.31; y suerte, β = ‐.15. Las investigaciones futuras deben apuntar a distinguir entre diferentes supuestos y sus influencias individuales en las quejas postraumáticas.

Traditional and Simplified Chinese Abstracts by the Asian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (AsianSTSS)

簡體及繁體中文撮要由亞洲創傷心理研究學會翻譯

Structural validity of the World Assumption Scale

Traditional Chinese

標題: 世界假定量表的結構性效度

撮要: 世界假定量表(WAS)是創傷研究常用的測量工具。WAS裡的32個項目乃基於8項有關世界的善心、事件意義和自我價值的假設。然而, WAS的效度, 特別是它的實證因素結構, 一直備受爭議。有些研究驗證了一個有8種相關因素的模型, 但其他研究卻無法驗證。本研究對臨床樣本採用WAS。樣本包含因創傷後的問題尋求治療的人士(n = 1,791), 以及醫療專業人員(n = 236)。我們把臨床樣本分為3組子樣本, 對1組的數據進行探索性因素分析, 並以其餘兩組進行驗證性因素分析, 測試因素結構。結果與過往得出的8種相關因素模型一致, 而且近乎所有因素都有可接受的信度(Cronbach's αs = .68–.84)。我們再以醫療專業人員組成的樣本試驗這個因素模型。這次試驗具更高水平的不變性, 並發現模型具尺量不變性 (同一結構、負苛、閾限) 。迴歸分析顯示, 5種因素跟創傷後壓力症(PTSD)症狀有顯著關連;我們對創傷事件 (自我價值, β = ‐.31; 和運氣, β = ‐.15) 進行對照試驗後, 發現2種因素與PTSD症狀有獨特關連。未來研究應針對分辨各種假設分別對創傷後問題造成的影響。

Simplified Chinese

标题: 世界假定量表的结构性效度

撮要: 世界假定量表(WAS)是创伤研究常用的测量工具。WAS里的32个项目乃基于8项有关世界的善心、事件意义和自我价值的假设。然而, WAS的效度, 特别是它的实证因素结构, 一直备受争议。有些研究验证了一个有8种相关因素的模型, 但其他研究却无法验证。本研究对临床样本采用WAS。样本包含因创伤后的问题寻求治疗的人士(n = 1,791), 以及医疗专业人员(n = 236)。我们把临床样本分为3组子样本, 对1组的数据进行探索性因素分析, 并以其余两组进行验证性因素分析, 测试因素结构。结果与过往得出的8种相关因素模型一致, 而且近乎所有因素都有可接受的信度(Cronbach's αs = .68–.84)。我们再以医疗专业人员组成的样本试验这个因素模型。这次试验具更高水平的不变性, 并发现模型具尺量不变性 (同一结构、负苛、阈限) 。回归分析显示, 5种因素跟创伤后压力症(PTSD)症状有显著关连;我们对创伤事件 (自我价值, β = ‐.31; 和运气, β = ‐.15) 进行对照试验后, 发现2种因素与PTSD症状有独特关连。未来研究应针对分辨各种假设分别对创伤后问题造成的影响。

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