Research Article 2 Source Dobratz M
Research Article 2source Dobratz M
Research article by Dobratz (2004) focuses on the expansion of the reliability and validity of the Life Closure Scale (LCS), a 45-item tool designed to measure psychological adaptation in terminal illness. The study discusses the psychometric properties of the LCS, including its reliability, convergent and divergent validity, factor analysis results, and correlations with other measures like the Quality of Life Survey, Zung Depression Scale, and Affect Balance Scale. The research explores the subscales of self-reconciled and self-restructuring, their interrelationships, and implications for assessing psychological adjustment in terminally ill patients.
Paper For Above instruction
The research by Dobratz (2004) presents a comprehensive psychometric evaluation of the Life Closure Scale (LCS), intended to assess psychological adaptation among terminally ill patients. The study's primary aim was to establish the reliability and validity of the LCS, which had been developed earlier in 1990. The scale's internal consistency was evidenced by a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .80 for the total scale, with the subscales of self-reconciled and self-restructuring showing high reliabilities of .85 and .86, respectively. These figures indicate that the instrument consistently measures the constructs it aims to assess, thus supporting its reliability.
In terms of construct validity, the study employed multiple approaches, including convergent and divergent validity assessments. The total LCS showed strong convergent validity with the psychological well-being items from the Quality of Life (QOL) survey, with a correlation of .82. The subscales of self-reconciled and self-restructuring demonstrated moderate and lower correlations (.37 and .69, respectively), indicating that while they are related to psychological well-being, they also measure distinct aspects of adjustment. Divergent validity was supported by low to moderate negative correlations with the Zung Depression Scale, with the total LCS exhibiting a negative correlation of –.60, suggesting that higher psychological adjustment corresponds with fewer depressive symptoms. These divergent correlations further affirm that the LCS is appropriately distinguished from measures of psychological disturbance.
Factor analysis conducted on a subset of 20 items within the LCS confirmed the theoretical two-factor structure, aligning with the subscales of self-reconciled and self-restructuring. This statistical method validated the scale’s internal structure, reinforcing its construct validity. Additionally, the LCS correlated positively with the Positive Affect Scale (r = .36, p
Overall, the findings provide substantial evidence that the LCS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing psychological adaptation in terminally ill patients. The high internal reliability coefficients, consistent factor analysis results, and meaningful correlations with related constructs underpin the scale’s psychometric robustness. Nevertheless, it is critical for future research to further test the LCS across diverse populations and settings to enhance its generalizability and clinical utility.
References
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