TY - JOUR
T1 - Loneliness in adolescence
T2 - a Rasch analysis of the Perth A-loneness scale
AU - Houghton, Stephen
AU - Marais, Ida
AU - Hunter, Simon C.
AU - Carroll, Annemaree
AU - Lawrence, David
AU - Tan, Carol
PY - 2021/2/28
Y1 - 2021/2/28
N2 - Purpose: The psychometric properties of the Perth A-loneness Scale (PALs) have been extensively validated using classical test theory, but to date no studies have applied a Rasch analysis. The purpose of this study was to validate the PALs four subscales, using Rasch analysis. Methods: Responses from 1484 adolescents (58% female, mean age = 12.8 years), 131 of whom had a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder, from 10 Western Australian secondary schools were included in the Rasch analysis. Overall fit, individual item fit, local response dependence, dimensionality, operation of response categories, and differential item functioning (DIF) were examined. Results: The Rasch analysis supported the factor structure of the PALs. A reasonable to high reliability was obtained for each of the subscales. Participants did not distinguish consistently between the higher categories 'very often' and 'always' on three of the subscales. No item showed Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for neurodevelopmental disorder status and age. One item on each of the Positive and Negative Attitude to Aloneness subscales showed DIF for gender. Conclusion: The results support the interval scale measurement properties of the PALs and provide clinicians and researchers with a measure to assess adolescent loneliness, a construct strongly associated with a constellation of mental health problems.
AB - Purpose: The psychometric properties of the Perth A-loneness Scale (PALs) have been extensively validated using classical test theory, but to date no studies have applied a Rasch analysis. The purpose of this study was to validate the PALs four subscales, using Rasch analysis. Methods: Responses from 1484 adolescents (58% female, mean age = 12.8 years), 131 of whom had a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder, from 10 Western Australian secondary schools were included in the Rasch analysis. Overall fit, individual item fit, local response dependence, dimensionality, operation of response categories, and differential item functioning (DIF) were examined. Results: The Rasch analysis supported the factor structure of the PALs. A reasonable to high reliability was obtained for each of the subscales. Participants did not distinguish consistently between the higher categories 'very often' and 'always' on three of the subscales. No item showed Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for neurodevelopmental disorder status and age. One item on each of the Positive and Negative Attitude to Aloneness subscales showed DIF for gender. Conclusion: The results support the interval scale measurement properties of the PALs and provide clinicians and researchers with a measure to assess adolescent loneliness, a construct strongly associated with a constellation of mental health problems.
KW - adolescents
KW - loneliness
KW - psychometrics
KW - Rasch model
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091018172&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11136-020-02635-x
DO - 10.1007/s11136-020-02635-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 32935273
AN - SCOPUS:85091018172
SN - 0962-9343
VL - 30
SP - 589
EP - 601
JO - Quality of Life Research
JF - Quality of Life Research
IS - 2
ER -
