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. 2023;76(1):109-124.
doi: 10.3233/WOR-220301.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a theory-based questionnaire measuring women's return-to-work beliefs after long-term sick leave for common mental disorders

Åsa Hedlund  1 , Eva Boman  2 , Marja-Leena Kristofferzon  1 , Annika Nilsson  1
Affiliations

Development and psychometric evaluation of a theory-based questionnaire measuring women's return-to-work beliefs after long-term sick leave for common mental disorders

Åsa Hedlund et al. Work. 2023.

Abstract

Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are currently a major cause of long-term sick leave, with women being most affected.

Objective: Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), we aimed to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of a new questionnaire to measure women's beliefs about return to work (RTW) after long-term sick leave for CMDs.

Methods: Data were collected in central Sweden from women on long-term sick leave (2- 24 months) for CMDs. The questionnaire was developed by conducting an elicitation study with 20 women and included both direct and indirect measures. Subsequently, 282 women participated in a psychometric evaluation and 35 of them in a test-retest procedure. Psychometric properties were evaluated by determining reliability (internal consistency [Cronbach's alpha] and test-retest stability [intraclass correlation coefficient]), construct validity (exploratory factor analysis) and content validity.

Results: The development resulted in 60 questionnaire items. Content validity assessment showed that the women overall found it easy to complete the questionnaire. Reliability analyses showed satisfactory results for both direct and indirect measures, with a few exceptions. Factor analyses of the indirect scales showed that items were generally in line with the TPB, but that items related to life as a whole/personal life and items related to work were separated into two different factors.

Conclusion: The questionnaire, called the RTW Beliefs Questionnaire, showed promising results and can among women with CMDs be considered useful, especially the scales for direct measures. This questionnaire gives opportunity to identify new potential predictors for RTW.

Keywords: Mental health recovery; psychological theory; psychometrics; rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of the process for development (Phase 1) and psychometric evaluation (Phase 2). *Francis et al. [29].
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Associations between indirect and direct measures (n = 268– 271). Model fit regarding indirect and direct measures for attitude: F(2,268) = 93.86, p < 0.001, for subjective norms: F(2,265) = 41.88, p < 0.001, and for perceived behavioural control: F(2,266) = 33.52, p < 0.001. Bold numbers represent significant values (p < 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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