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Factorial structure of the suicide intervention response inventory
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1986
Summary
The Suicide Intervention Response Inventory (SIRI) may measure multiple counselor skills, not just one. Four key factors were identified, impacting crisis counseling training and instrument development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Counseling
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The Suicide Intervention Response Inventory (SIRI) was previously validated as a unitary measure.
- Assessing counselor response skills is crucial in suicide and crisis intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dimensionality of the response skill measured by the SIRI.
- To determine if the SIRI is multifactorial rather than unitary.
Main Methods:
- Factor analysis was performed on SIRI inventories from 457 paraprofessional counselors.
- Data were collected from five suicide and crisis intervention services across the US.
Main Results:
- The factor analysis supported a multifactorial structure for the SIRI.
- Four distinct factors were identified: Elaboration of the Complaint, Exploration of Suicidality, Involvement, and Reflection of Negative Feelings.
Conclusions:
- The SIRI appears to measure multiple dimensions of counselor response skills.
- Findings have implications for crisis counselor training and the psychometric refinement of the SIRI.