A psychometric evaluation of the Life Attitudes Schedule-Short Form

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Life Attitudes Schedule-Short Form (LAS-SF) is a tool for assessing suicide proneness.
• Existing conceptual models of suicide proneness require empirical validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test four competing factor structures of the LAS-SF.
• To examine the construct validity of the LAS-SF using mental health and suicide metrics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 488 community-dwelling adults.
• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate LAS-SF structures.
• Correlations were computed to assess construct validity.

Main Results:

• A four-factor LAS-SF structure (death-related, health-related, injury-related, self-related subscales) with a higher-order factor was supported.
• Death-related, injury-related, and self-related subscales showed positive associations with mental health and suicidal ideation.
• Death-related and self-related subscales were linked to suicidal ideation, suicide risk, and depression risk.

Conclusions:

• The study supports a refined four-factor structure for the LAS-SF.
• Findings suggest that suicide proneness theory may need refinement.
• The LAS-SF has potential applications in clinical risk screening, particularly focusing on psychological aspects of death.