A Psychometric Analysis of the Duke Misophonia Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Clinical Psychology
• Auditory Perception

Background:

• Misophonia is characterized by strong emotional and physiological responses to specific sounds.
• The Duke Misophonia Questionnaire (DMQ) measures misophonia but lacks comprehensive psychometric analysis.
• Previous research focused on individual DMQ subscales, not the entire instrument.

Purpose of the Study:

• To psychometrically evaluate the Duke Misophonia Questionnaire (DMQ) using modern methods.
• To enhance the DMQ's consistency, stability, and applicability in misophonia research.
• To compare an empirically derived five-factor model with a theoretically defined eight-factor model.

Main Methods:

• Two online student samples (N=318, N=424) completed the DMQ.
• Assessed a novel five-factor model and a theoretically defined eight-factor model.
• Utilized multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) to analyze the five-factor model's functioning.

Main Results:

• Both five-factor and eight-factor models showed adequate fit.
• The five-factor model was more parsimonious and demonstrated slightly better fit.
• Multidimensional item response theory indicated the DMQ functions best at moderate to high misophonia severity levels.

Conclusions:

• A more parsimonious five-factor structure refines the DMQ.
• This psychometric refinement promotes greater consistency and stability in misophonia research.
• The study enhances the DMQ's utility for future scientific investigations.