The psychometric property and validation of a fatalism scale

Abstract

In this paper, we conceptualized fatalism as a set of health beliefs that encompass the dimensions of predetermination, luck and pessimism. A 20-item scale was developed as a measurement instrument. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the dimensionality of the scale. Three external variables (i.e., genetic determinism, perceived benefits of lifestyle change, and intention to engage in healthy behavior) were used as reference variables to test the construct validity of the scale. Data from a web-based national survey (N=1218) showed that the scale was unidimensional on the second order, and with good reliability (α =.88). The relationships between the external variables and the first- and second-order factors provided evidence of the scale’s external consistency and construct validity.

Measuring Message Credibility

“…To test the scale's discriminant validity, two models were compared with one another: one in which the scale is the same as these related variables (i.e., the correlation between credibility and liking as well as that between credibility and newsworthiness was constrained to be 1) and one in which the variables were different (i.e., the correlation was unconstrained). These methods of validity testing have been used in previous studies (e.g., Hayes, Glynn, & Shanahan, 2005;Shen, Condit, & Wright, 2008;Wang & Senecal, 2007).…”

“…Whereas scale construction studies are often conducted in the form of surveys (e.g., Brown, 2003;Shen et al, 2008), it is also appropriate to use an experimental design as a foundation for analysis (e.g., Wang & Senecal, 2007). For this study, in particular, we wanted to determine how well the measures reflected the underlying concept of message credibility, not just how consistent they were with each other.…”

Instrument Adaptation, Modification, and Validation for Cultural Beliefs About Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Korean Americans

“…Fecal occult blood test was chosen because it is noninvasive and cost-effective. 27 In addition, health fatalism 28 (notions of fate, luck, destiny, and predetermination regarding diseases or health conditions) was added to make the theoretical framework more culturally sensitive and comprehensive. Traditionally, KAs have fatalism about health and illness, as well as life and death, which is different from fatalism about cancer.…”

Evaluating oral HIV self-testing to increase HIV testing uptake among truck drivers in Kenya

“…Following the consent process, the fieldworker administered the first survey (baseline), which included questions about participants' demographic characteristics and sexual health behaviors and experiences, including HIV testing. We also administered a number of previously validated scales to quantify anticipated HIV stigma (Weiser et al 2006), self-efficacy (Schwarzer and Jerusalem 1995), fatalism (Shen et al 2009), self-esteem (Rosenberg 1965) and gender equity (Pulerwitz and Barker 2008).…”

“…We used a 20-item fatalism scale (Shen et al 2009) that elicited agreement to a series of fatalistic statements mostly related to health (e.g. "If someone is meant to get a serious disease, it doesn't matter what kinds of food they eat, they will get that disease anyway").…”