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Objective. The occurrence of traumatic events in childhood and during later life increases the incidence of many mental and somatic diseases. The lifetime impact of cumulative stressful events throughout life is very substantial. The aim of this study was to check selected psychometric parameters of the Czech version of the LSC-R, to assess the occurrence of life stressors in a representative sample of adult population in the CR and to determine associations between the occurrence of stressors, health, pain and problematic use of alcohol and nicotine. Sample and settings. A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the adult Czech population (N=1800, age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% of men) collected data on the LSC-R. For convergent validity the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) and the CAGE-questionnaires were used. Results. In 80% of respondents at least one stressor and in 15% five or more stressors were found. The sociodemographic differences are discussed. People with problematic use of alcohol and nicotine experienced significantly more overall stressors, stressors that began before the age of 16 years old and more interpersonal violence in comparison with non-drinkers and nonsmokers. Confirmatory analysis showed satisfactory fit parameters for the created five-factor model, and convergent validity was demonstrated. Significant associations between scores on the LSC-R, physical and mental health, pain and the problematic use of alcohol and nicotine are discussed. Summary. The Life Stressor Checklist-Revised appears to be a clinically useful instrument for the detection of lifetime stressors and for research purposes in the context of planning prevention and therapeutic possibilities. Limitations. The LSC-R was the part of a larger battery and was placed in the last third. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of the study was to verify psychometric properties of the Czech version of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in a representative sample of the Czech Republic and to assess sociodemographic differences in various types of trauma across different groups of the Czech population. Methods. A cross-sectional study (N=1000, mean age 46.0, 48.6% men) collected data using the CTQ. Medians and quartiles were used to assess the data, non-parametric tests were used to test the differences between groups. The dimensional structure was tested by confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Results. All subscales of the CTQ correlated moderately. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed the suitability of the original 5-factor solution. The internal consistency of the CTQ subscales was very good (a ranged from .817 to .922), except physical neglect with questionable consistency (a= .642). According to the empirically derived cut off score, emotional abuse (EA) was found in 20.2%, physical abuse (PA) in 18%, sexual abuse (SA) in 9.7%, emotional neglect (EN) in 15.6% and physical neglect (PN) in 37.2% of the Czech population, with 24.5% of respondents with one type of trauma experience and 23.8% with multiplex traumatisation. People living alone had a significantly higher occurrence of EA, EN and PN. People with primary school education had a significantly higher occurrence of EN and PN compared to those with higher education. Disability was significantly associated with the occurrence of EA. The incidence of SA was significantly associated with living alone and achieved primary education. Limitations. Data collection method (a standardised face to face interview) could affect the social desirability of answers as well as sensitivity to emotionally demanding items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Recent research has begun to pay attention to the experiences of guilt and shame in different realms of human life. However, there is an urgent need to develop valid instruments for measuring these emotional experiences. The main aims of this study are to introduce a newly developed tool, the Guilt and Shame Experience Scale (GSES), and to psychometrically evaluate its properties. Sample and settings. An online sample of Czech respondents aged 15 and over (N=1101; 34.4 ± 13.0 years; 26.9% men) participated in the survey. Experiences of guilt and shame (GSES), together with basic socio-economic information, were measured. Results. The non-parametric comparison of different socio-demographic groups showed a higher disposition for experiencing guilt among women and religious respondents and a lower disposition for experiencing both vindication and shame among middle-aged respondents. For the purpose of factor analysis, the data set was divided into two groups. One group (N=551) was used for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the second (N=550) for Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). On the basis of the EFA performed on a matrix of polychoric correlations and the subsequent CFA, two items were excluded. The eight-item version of the scale has good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha 0.86 and McDonald's ωt 0.88. At the same time, the polychoric correlations between the items of the scale showed a low to moderate inter-item correlation, with values between 0.20 and 0.60. A two-factor model has the best fit with the data. The two-factor solution also corresponds to the theoretical assumptions and to the two expected subscales of the questionnaire: shame and guilt. Each subset contains four items. Study limitations. The main limitation of this study is that it did not reach a representative sample, allowing a more detailed exploration among socio-demographic groups, and therefore, it was not possible to determine the norms for the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Attachment experience and behaviours adopted during childhood and their manifestation in adulthood are related to mental and physical health. The Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire was used to detect attachment style. The aim of the study was to explore the psychometric properties of the reworked Czech translation of the ECR-R (Prožívání blízkých vztahů) with reformulated problematic items and to compare it with the shortened version, the ECR-R-16. The other aim was to assess the sociodemographic differences in attachment anxiety and avoidance in different population groups. Sample and settings. A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the adult population of the Czech Republic (N=1800, age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% of men) collected data on the ECRR questionnaire. Results. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the short version ECR-R-16 is more appropriate and has a clear two-factor solution with great reliability at the scale of attachment anxiety (α=.91) and attachment avoidance (α=.91). Confirmatory analysis showed a better fit with the data after excluding the two items with the lowest h² communalities (ECR-R-14). The convergent validity of the ECR-R-16 with the Relationships questionnaire was confirmed. The demographic differences in various groups are described. Summary. The ECR-R and the ECR-R-16 questionnaires are appropriate for the research of the attachment in adults and for the clinical purposes. Limitations. When comparing with other studies, it is necessary to take into account that the "face to face" method was used. Even in adolescents (age 15 to 19, N=97) the adult ECR-R variant was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Assessment of psychopathological symptoms is an important part of research and clinical practice. This study examines the psychometric characteristics of the Czech version of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53 CZ) and forms the basis for creating standards for the Czech non-clinical population. The BSI-53 is a shorter, multidimensional version of the Symptom-Checklist 90-R (SCL 90-R) questionnaire used to detect the presence of psychopathological symptoms. The instrument contains nine subscales and three general indexes: the Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Total (PST) and Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI). Sample and settings. A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the adult Czech population (N=1800, mean age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% men). Statistical analyses were performed on the collected BSI-53 data. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) was used to determine the convergent validity. Results. Spearman's correlation coefficients between the BSI-53 subscales are moderately high, with values of 0.45-0.75. Confirmatory factor analysis for a standard nine-factor model showed that loadings of all items on the associated factors were medium to high, with values of 0.55-0.87. This model shows a sufficient fit to our data: χ² (1091)=4328.2, p<0.001, CFI=0.994, TLI=0.994, SRMR=0.045, RMSEA= 0.041 (90%CI=0.039-0.042). Internal consistency of the BSI-53 is high, with Cronbach's α=0.97 (95%CI 0.97-0.98) and Mc-Donald coefficients ωh=0.84 and ωt=0.97. The convergent validity, assessed by correlations with the mental health subscale of the SF-8 questionnaire, was found to be moderate to high. Significant differences in the occurrence of psychopathological symptoms among different sociodemographic groups of the Czech population were found. Differences between the Czech data and data from several foreign countries (Germany, Great Britain and Israel) were found. Conclusion. The BSI-53 questionnaire is a short, reliable instrument for the assessment of psychological distress. The degree of utility of the instrument in clinical work and the evaluation of its potential to identify specific clinical syndromes and sensitivity to detect changes should be documented by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Spirituality is connected to many domains of human life including psychical, physical and social health. Therefore, valid instruments for measuring of the spirituality are needed. The aim of this study was a psychometric analysis of the Czech version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well Being (FACIT-Sp) scale. Sample and settings. A nationally representative sample of 1000 Czech respondents aged fifteen years and over (N=1000; 46,04±17,28 years; 48,6% men) participated in the survey. Spiritual well-being and basic socioeconomic information were measured. Results. Results showed differences in spiritual well-being among different demographic groups. Women and the age group over 60 years scored significantly higher in the dimension of faith. Values of subscale Meaning/Peace were decreasing with age and were also lower in the group of lonely living respondents and respondents with lower education level. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the number of factors with the use of methods Kaiser crtierion, scree plot, Paralel analysis (PA) and Minimum average partial test (MAP). Three items of the scale were eliminated due to decrease of the reliability of the measure. Subsequently, EFA suggested both two and three factor solution, where the factor Meaning/Peace was divided into two factors Meaning and Peace. The confirmatory factor analysis supports both two- and three-factorial model, however, suggests slightly better fit for the threefactorial model with χ² (24) = 147,1; p <0,001; SRMR = 0,054; CFI = 0,998; TLI = 0,997; RMSEA = 0,072 (90% CI = 0,061-0,083). Both the original and the shortened version of the scale have acceptable internal consistency: for the full 12 item version Cronbach's alpha = 0,7 and McDonald's ωt = 0,87, for the 9 item version α = 0,78 and ωt = 0,89. Study limitations. Limitation of the study is the method of data collection by standardized face to face interview and thus possible effect of social desirability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Spirituality is often positively associated with physical and mental health. However, recent research suggests also possible negative associations connected with socalled religious struggles. Therefore, the need of having valid instrument for measuring spiritual struggles is also increasing. The aim of this study was to psychometrically evaluate Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale (RSS) in secular conditions of the Czech Republic. Sample and settings. A nationally representative sample of 1000 Czech respondents aged fifteen years and over (n=1000; 46.04±17.28 years; 48.6% men) participated in the survey. Religious and spiritual struggles and basic socioeconomic information were measured. Results. The non-parametric comparison of different sociodemographic groups showed a higher prevalence of religious and spiritual struggles among older people, people living alone and the unemployed. In order to assess the number of factors, Kaiser criterion, scree plot, Paralel analysis (PA) and Minimum average partial test (MAP) were used. All of these methods resulted into a three-factors solution. The original scale consists of six subscales, in Czech conditions, however, they tended to pair up. Therefore, besides presenting the full version, we also decided to reduce the scale and for common research we suggest the possibility of using only three subscales (Divine, Meaning and Interpersonal). The confirmatory factor analyses supports this model with χ² (74)=176.8; p<0.001, SRMR=0.035, CFI=0.998, TLI=0.998, RMSEA=0.037 (90% CI=0.030-0.044). Both versions of the scale have a high internal consistency: for the full version α=0.96 and ωt = 0.96, for the three-scale version α=0.92 and ωt =0.94. Study limitations. The main limitation of this study is a high proportion of respondents who reported that they have no experience of religious and spiritual struggle. This is probably connected with a low overall religiosity in the country, as shown in the representative sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The SF-8 Health Survey Questionnaire is an effective health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurement tool consisting of eight items. The aim of the study was to verify the factor structure of the Czech version of the questionnaire, to describe the basic psychometric properties of the tool, to develop a basis for the creation of standards based on the analysis of the results from a representative sample and to compare the global scores between respondents with and without chronic health problems. Sample and settings. A nationally representative sample of 1800 Czech respondents (N = 1800, age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% men) participated in the survey focused on health issues. Results: Females achieved lower scores in all items compared with males, except for physical functions and total physical health. With increasing age, the individual items, as well as the PCS (physical component summary) and the MCS (mental component summary) scores, declined for both genders. Thus, higher age was associated with worse subjective health status. Respondents with higher education showed a higher quality of life in the sphere of both mental and physical health experience. The study revealed revealed differences between healthy and chronically ill patients with back pain, hypertension, depression, allergy and migraine for all diseases in the overall PCS and MCS scores. In order to assess the number of factors, the Kaiser criterion, scree plot, Parallel Analysis (PA) and Minimum Average Partial test (MAP) were used. All of these methods resulted into a two-factor solution. Confirmation factor analysis confirmed the model's compliance for our data. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 and McDonald's coefficient omega with a value of 0.94 showed that the Czech version of the SF-8 Health Survey is a tool with high internal consistency and reliability. Conclusion. The Czech version of the SF-8 Health Survey is a tool with high internal consistency and reliability, suitable for use in research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. There is a growing body of literature that focuses on the associations between spirituality and different areas of human life. Therefore, the need for having valid instruments for measuring spirituality is also increasing. The aim of this study was to psychometrically evaluate the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES) in Czech conditions. Sample and settings. A nationally representative sample of 1800 Czech respondents aged fifteen years and over (n=1800; 46.4±17.4 years; 48.7% men) participated in the survey. Spirituality (DSES) and religiosity, together with basic socio-demographic information, were measured. Results. The non-parametric comparison of different sociodemographic groups showed higher spirituality among women and among widows/widowers. There was also a trend of increasing spiritual experience in older groups. Spearman's correlation among the items of the scale showed a high inter-item correlation (0.92) between items 4 and 5; therefore, we decided to exclude item 5. The 15-item version of the scale has high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha = = 0.96 and McDonald's ωt = 0.98. The Exploratory Factor Analysis performed on a matrix of polychoric correlations resulted in a two-factor model. The Confirmatory factor analyses supports this model with χ² (89) = 648.1; p<0.001; SRMR = 0.037; TLI = 0.999; CFI = 0.999; RMSEA = 0.059 (90% CI = 0.055-0.063). Study limitations. The main limitation of this study is the high proportion of religiously unaffiliated respondents and the correspondingly low number of religious respondents, which is a natural consequence of gathering representative samples in a secular environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]