The Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC): A French short version for cancer patients

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 18;15(6):e0232706. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232706. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Background: Intrapersonal and interpersonal Emotional Competence (EC) predicts better health and disease adjustment. This study aimed to validate a short version of the Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC) scale for cancer patients.

Methods: Five hundred and thirty-five patients with cancer completed a self-reported questionnaire assessing their intra- and interpersonal EC (PEC), their anxiety and depression symptoms (HADS), and their health-related quality of life (QLQ-C30). Confirmatory factor analyses and Item Response Theory models with the Partial Credit Model were performed to validate and reduce the scale.

Findings: The Short-PEC (13 items), composed of 2 sub-scores of intra- (6 items) and interpersonal (7 items) EC, showed an improved factorial structure (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.075 (90% confidence interval 0.066-0.085), comparative fit index = 0.915) with good psychometric properties.

Discussion: Future studies should use the Short-PEC to explain and predict the adjustment of cancer patients. The short-PEC could be also used in clinical routine to assess the level of EC of patients and to adapt psychosocial intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Emotional Adjustment*
  • Emotions*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Prognosis
  • Psychometrics
  • Quality of Life
  • Self Report

Grant support

This work was supported by the SIRIC ONCOLille (Grant INCa-DGOS Inserm 6041) to VC and the “Region Hauts-de-France.” FREGAT was funded with support from the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) and the CHU de Lille is the sponsor of the FREGAT study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.