Development and psychometric testing of the Leddy Healthiness Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Health Psychology
• Measurement Theory

Background:

• Healthiness is a construct encompassing purpose and goal achievement.
• Existing measures may not fully capture this definition of healthiness.
• A validated scale is needed to assess perceived purpose and the power to achieve goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the Leddy Healthiness Scale (LHS).
• To determine the psychometric properties of the LHS, including reliability and validity.
• To establish a reliable and valid instrument for measuring healthiness.

Main Methods:

• The study involved three stages with overlapping samples.
• Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.
• Test-retest reliability was evaluated over 2-6 weeks.
• Principal components factor analysis was used to determine the scale's structure.
• Convergent and divergent validity were assessed through correlations with established scales.

Main Results:

• Internal consistency reliability ranged from .89 to .93.
• Test-retest reliability was .86.
• Factor analysis identified three components explaining 51.2% of the variance.
• Strong correlations were found with measures of well-being, purpose, and coherence (convergent validity).
• A moderate negative correlation was observed with a fatigue scale (divergent validity).

Conclusions:

• The Leddy Healthiness Scale (LHS) demonstrates initial reliability and validity.
• The LHS is a promising instrument for measuring healthiness.
• Further psychometric evaluation and testing are recommended.