Psychometric properties of the ABSI-id, an adapted measure for anger-related interoceptive awareness in individuals with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning

ABSTRACT

Background

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Anger Bodily Sensations Interview – intellectual disabilities (ABSI-id), an adapted instrument to measure anger-related interoceptive awareness (IA) in individuals with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF).

Method

The ABSI-id was individually administered to 208 clients (51% male) with MID-BIF in residential facilities.

Results

An EFA and CFA showed a two-factor structure of the ABSI-id, including nine items. The ABSI-id had moderate to good reliability, with an internal consistency ranging from acceptable to good, a test–retest reliability ranging from moderate to good and an adequate convergent validity. There was no significant difference in ABSI-id scores between individuals with MID and BIF.

Conclusion

The ABSI-id is a promising instrument for measuring anger-related IA, additional research is needed on validity and sensitivity of change.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychometric properties
• anger-related interoceptive awareness
• aggression
• mild intellectual disability
• borderline intellectual functioning

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the residential facilities and clients for participating in this study, and students of Radboud University Nijmegen and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences for their support at data collection. All authors have seen and approved of the manuscript and agree to the order of authors as listed on the title page.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) – Docotoral Grant for Teachters [grant number 023.004.138]; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [grant number 023.004.138].