Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
Content and concurrent validity of the motivation for change questionnaire
1R&D Welfare of Southern Småland, P.O. Box 1223, SE-351 12, Vaxjo, Sweden. birgitta.grahn@fouviss.se
Introduction:
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are nowadays seen within a biopsychosocial framework, including salutogenic factors, motivation factors, and coping ability. Such a framework recognizes the importance of motivational factors in health promotion and in rehabilitation. The Motivation for Change Questionnaire (MCQ) has been developed to measure the strength of individuals' motivation for change in life, MCQ part 1, and work situation, MCQ part 2. The purpose of the study was to test the content and concurrent validity of the MCQ on patients with prolonged musculoskeletal disorders referred to interdisciplinary rehabilitation as a basis for use in medical and occupational rehabilitation.
Methods:
Content validity was studied among an expert group of 20 rehabilitation professionals at a rehabilitation centre, and with 10 individuals suffering from prolonged MSD in the south of Sweden. The experts evaluated the clinical relevance of each question in MCQ. Concurrent validity was studied on 58 patients with prolonged MSD at an interdisciplinary rehabilitation centre in the south of Sweden. They answered MCQ, QPS Nordic questionnaire, KASAM and the Action theory questionnaire. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used in the analyses.
Results:
The MCQ covered and measured areas of relevance according to content validity. No floor effects in any of the subscales of MCQ part 1 were seen. In MCQ part 2, floor effects were seen in two sub indexes. As for concurrent validity subscales of MCQ correlated significantly with QPS Nordic questionnaire and KASAM.
Conclusions:
Findings so far indicate the instrument to be valid for use within the present patient group. The questionnaire can be used to identify patient's motivating factors for change in life and work, as a basis for motivational work within rehabilitation.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Motivational Cycle
The cycle begins with a need. This need can arise from various conditions, such as hunger, thirst, or temperature changes. For instance, when an individual feels cold, their body...
Self-Efficacy