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Hyperarousal, depression and quality of life – validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Hyperarousal Scale
Author(s) -
EdéllGustafsson Ulla,
Carstensen John,
Regestein Quentin,
Swahn Eva,
Svanborg Eva
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2006.00381.x
Subject(s) - fight or flight response , psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , scale (ratio) , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , stress (linguistics) , biochemistry , chemistry , linguistics , macroeconomics , philosophy , economics , gene , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Aim: Research focusing on hyperarousability in association with general sensitivity to stress has increased. This study aimed to: (i) describe values for self‐reported hyperarousal behaviour traits, depression, sleeplessness behaviour and health‐related quality of life [The Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF‐36)] in a gender‐stratified random sample from the Swedish population; and (ii) test the validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Hyperarousal Behavioural Trait Scale (H‐scale). Methods: In this study, 402 women and 391 men from Sweden were included. A test–retest study was performed on 297 subjects. Results: The total mean score on the H‐scale was 29.5 (SD 10.0, 95% CI 28.8–30.2). Compared to men, women scored higher on the H‐scale (total score, sub‐scales and many items), whereas no evidence of an age trend was seen. The H‐scale has proven to be a valid and reliable scale. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed similar magnitude and direction between the H‐scale and the Zung's Self‐rating Depression Scale, as between the H‐scale and the Vicious Cycle of Sleeplessness Behaviour Scale, Vitality, Mental Health and the Mental Component Summary index on the SF‐36 respectively. The Cronbach's alpha for the H‐scale was 0.84 and estimated stability test–retest point of time varies between 0.73 and 0.80. Conclusions: This study indicates gender differences in response style in association with altered health‐related quality of life. The H‐scale is a valid and reliable self‐reported scale for measuring hyperarousal behavioural trait research outcome in clinical practice.