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Construction and validation of a self‐direction measure for mental health care
Author(s) -
Vries Arie,
Tiemens Bea,
Cillessen Linda,
Hutschemaekers Giel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.23091
Subject(s) - psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , exploratory factor analysis , measure (data warehouse) , directive , self , mental health , applied psychology , control (management) , psychometrics , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychotherapist , computer science , data mining , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , programming language
Objective The aims were to describe and develop a measure of the concept of the active self as self‐direction and to assess the extent to which clients in a mental healthcare setting were becoming self‐directive instead of being directed by their therapist. Methods A panel of experts was formed to discuss the concept self‐direction and to formulate a tentative model of self‐direction. An initial questionnaire was constructed. A cross‐section of clients completed the questionnaire to evaluate its validity and reliability with exploratory factor analysis. Results A 31‐item questionnaire was constructed that included six factors that measured actorship , commitment , demoralization , readiness , understanding , and monitoring progress and two broader underlying factors called gaining control and loss of control . Conclusion The developed questionnaire measures the degree to which people are experiencing self‐direction in their lives, and their capability of solving their problems.