An Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Reasons for Living Inventory within a Male Veteran Clinical Sample

Abstract

Elevated suicide risk among veteran populations remains a significant public health concern. However, few suicide assessment measures have been validated for veterans. The current study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) scores among veteran populations. The participants included male veterans (N = 421) from a broad range of ages, combat exposures, and history of suicide attempts. Participants completed the RFL and a set of additional self-report measures of relevant constructs in a cross-sectional design. Estimates of internal consistency reliability were adequate for scores on all the original RFL subscale scores. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and exploratory bifactor (bi-factor EFA) analyses provided detailed information regarding the 6-factor solution from the original validation studies with the RFL. Additional analyses identified potential correlates for the RFL total and subscale scores. Secondary analyses showed support for evidence of known-groups validity for the RFL total scale score. Overall, this study provides initial support for the RFL as a reliable and valid measure of protective factors in veterans. Future studies may wish to consider further validation of the current findings.

Keywords:

• psychometrics
• reasons for living
• suicide
• veterans

Author note

Jason I. Chen, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA.

Augustine Osman, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Stacey L. Freedenthal, Department of Psychology, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, Denver, CO, USA.

Peter M. Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center at the Denver VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Peter M. Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, MIRECC, 1700 N. Wheeling St., G3-116M, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Notes

1 It is important to note that Marsh, Hau, and Wen (2004) have pointed out that the conventional criteria adopted for these fit statistics may be too stringent to be used across all models, simple as well as complex.

2 The availability of target rotations, however, can allow for exploring the nature of item-factor cross-loadings in EFA or within ESEM (e.g., Bifactor-ESEM with target rotation).

3 We note that within bifactor modeling, the magnitude of the PUC can be affected by a large number of items within a scale. The SCB is composed of 24 items compared to other subscales such as moral objections and child-related concerns, each composed of only three items.

4 Although not the focus of the interpretation, it is worth noting that Stucky, Thissen, and Edelen (2013) have proposed that the I-ECV (p² ), with information regarding unidimensionality at the individual item level, can be used by researchers within IRT to construct a unidimensional instrument. High I-ECV values (values ≥0.80) are more linked to the general factor than to the specific factor.

5 In order to maintain consistency in retaining six 2- or 3-item subscales for the RFL (see Ivanoff, Jang, Smyth, & Linehan, 1994), researchers might consider the following, based on the current bi-factor results. Survival and Coping Beliefs (Items 19, 22, 36), Responsibility to Family (Items 1, 9, 16), Fear of Suicide (Items 18, 26, 33), Moral Objections (Items 5, 27, 34), Child-Related Concerns (Items 11, 21, 28), and Fear of Social Disapproval (Items 31, 41, 43). Alternatively, the 24 items of the Survival and Coping Beliefs items could be scored as a unidimensional scale.

Additional information

Funding

This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Denver VA Medical Center, Denver, Colorado. Dr. Gutierrez, senior author, is a clinical/research psychologist in the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO.