Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a multidimensional measure of distress experienced by partners of Australian combat veterans.
Method: The Partners of Veterans Distress Scale (POV-DS) was developed using factor analysis on a sample of 665 female members of Partners of Veterans Association of Australia. Content validity for the scale was established by using focus groups and expert feedback during item development phase. In addition, two self-report inventories were administered to assess physical/mental health, and satisfaction with life.
Results: Following principal-axis factoring, 45 items were retained, loading on seven distinct but correlated factors: Sleep problems, Hyper-vigilance, Social isolation, Financial problems, Intimacy problems, Exhaustion, and Negative affect. The factor structure was cross-validated using confirmatory factor analysis on a hold-out sample. The distress subscales all exhibited excellent internal consistency (αs ranged from 0.84 to 0.95). Validation analyses revealed subscales derived from the seven-factor model explained 31% to 45% of the variance in partners’ physical health, mental health, and satisfaction with life.
Conclusions: The study found that the POV-DS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing distress in partners of Australian combat veterans.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia Inc. for their assistance with recruitment. This paper is based on research conducted for a Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) thesis by the first author. Thanks to Robert who hung in there.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.