Test-Taking and the Stability of Adjustment Scales

Abstract

Nonpatient responses to five major adjustment scales were examined at three time-points, two weeks apart. There was no evidence for a systematic increase in adjustment scores due to completing the instruments. Internal consistency coefficients and test-retest stability coefficients for the five adjustment scales show them to have utility for assessing patient groups. Only the SCL-90 showed promise for allowing reliable assessment of individual change over time. All five scales significantly discriminate patient groups from groups of nonpatients. Further research is needed to clarify present results, to determine the clinical significance of various magnitude changes on the scales, and to develop more specific measures of adjustment and symptomatology.

Comparison of alternative models for personality disorders

“…Social Adjustment Scale, Self-Report (SAS-SR) The SAS-SR (Weissman & Bothwell, 1976) is a self-report instrument with adequate psychometric properties (Edwards et al 1978) that yields estimates of interpersonal, occupational and recreational functioning. Median internal consistency reliability from CLPS baseline data for these composites was 0 .…”

Generalized social phobia and avoidant personality disorder: meaningful distinction or useless duplication?

“…Edwards et al [1978] demonstrated good internal consistency (a 5 .74) and high retest reliability (mean r 5 .80). Studies with various samples show satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity [Edwards et al, 1978;Weissman and Bothwell, 1976;Weissman et al, 1978]. If people with AVPD have pervasive social inhibition, then their social functioning across many situations life spheres should be negatively affected.…”

Shared, Not Unique, Components of Personality and Psychosocial Functioning Predict Depression Severity After Acute-phase Cognitive Therapy

“…Participants complete only those sections of the questionnaire reflecting their social roles (e.g., not all participants complete marital or parenting sections), and higher scores reflect poorer adjustment. In past research, internal consistency for the overall adjustment score was moderate (α = .74) and temporal stability was good (r = .80) across 2-week intervals (Edwards, Yarvis, Mueller, Zingale, & Wagman, 1978). Validity evidence includes appropriate patterns of mean differences, significant correlations with clinical ratings, and sensitivity to change in psychopathology (Weissman & Bothwell, 1976;Weissmann, Prusoff, Thompson, Harding, & Myers, 1978).…”