Confirmatory factor analysis for assessment of the Menopausal Representation Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop the Menopausal Representation Questionnaire (MRQ) using confirmatory factor analysis. METHODS: We examined the MRQ using a descriptive cross-sectional design. We recruited 228 women aged between 45 and 64 years (mean [SD], 55.6 [5.2] y). Most of them were non-Hispanic white (63.4%), college educated (74.2%), and postmenopausal (76.8%). RESULTS: After 22 items were deleted, the fit indices of the confirmatory factor analysis of the MRQ model indicated an acceptable fit: χ = 425.5; df = 209; P < 0.0001; goodness of fit = 0.96; comparative fit index = 0.93; root mean square error of approximation = 0.07 (90% CI, 0.06-0.08); Akaike information criterion = 559.5. There were significant correlations among MRQ constructs. Correlations between MRQ subscales and the Greene Climacteric Scale were significant in the expected direction supporting construct validity. Intercorrelation between factors supported the discriminant validity of the constructs. CONCLUSIONS: The MRQ provides a comprehensive measure of menopausal experiences to more fully understand women's interpretation of their experiences.