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Factor structure of the Arthritis Helplessness Index
M J Stein1, K A Wallston, P M Nicassio
1Health Care Research Project, School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|March 1, 1988
Summary
The Arthritis Helplessness Index (AHI) has two reliable subscales, internality and helplessness, which are more valid than the total score for assessing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient experiences.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
- Assessing patients' psychological responses to chronic illness is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the factor structure of the Arthritis Helplessness Index (AHI).
- To determine the reliability and validity of AHI subscales compared to the total score in patients with RA.
Main Methods:
- Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation was employed.
- Data were collected from a longitudinal study of 368 patients diagnosed with RA.
- The factor structure was cross-validated twice.
Main Results:
- Two distinct subscales, internality and helplessness, emerged from the factor analysis.
- These subscales demonstrated a slight negative correlation (r = -0.21).
- The AHI subscales were found to be more reliable and valid than the overall AHI score.
Conclusions:
- The internality and helplessness subscales provide a more accurate assessment of patient experiences than the total AHI score.
- The helplessness subscale is a particularly valid measure of how overwhelmed RA patients feel by their disease.