A psychometric analysis of the Geriatric Hopelessness Scale (GHS): towards improving assessment of the construct
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Published on: January 24, 2020
Marnin J Heisel1, Gordon L Flett
1Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, University Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14642-8409, USA. Marnin_Heisel@urmc.rochester.edu
Background:
Hopelessness increases vulnerability to late-life depression and risk for suicide. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Geriatric Hopelessness Scale (GHS; Fry, 1984) among a heterogeneous sample of older adults and its association with depression and suicide ideation.
Methods:
Seventy-eight adults 65 years or older recruited from psychiatric, medical, residential, and community were administered the study measures. We examined the item-response characteristics, factor structure, and reliability of the GHS, its construct validity by way of associations with depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation, and criterion validity in terms of differentiating psychiatric patients from non-psychiatric participants.
Results:
The GHS had poor item-response characteristics but acceptable internal consistency and construct validity. A factor analysis yielded three internally consistent factors assessing Fatalistic, Interpersonal, and Spiritual Hopelessness. An 11-item GHS-Suicide Risk subscale was identified with acceptable internal consistency, significant association with measures of hopelessness, depression, and suicide ideation, and that differentiated psychiatric patients from non-psychiatric participants.
Limitations:
This study had a relatively small sample size, included a high proportion of female respondents (79%), and a relatively low proportion of patients in mental health care (17%).
Conclusions:
The GHS had acceptable reliability and construct validity, but poor item-response characteristics and criterion validity with respect to differentiating psychiatric patients from non-psychiatric participants. Use of shortened GHS measures may improve upon the limitations of the full scale, and may be preferable when seeking to identify older adults at risk for suicide.
