Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Oct 2023)

Reliability and Validity of Self-Concealment Scale in Chinese Older Adults

  • Fan Z,
  • Shi X,
  • Hu C,
  • Zhu L,
  • Wang Z

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 4341 – 4352

Abstract

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Zhiguang Fan,1 Xiaoli Shi,2 Chunjie Hu,3 Liya Zhu,4 Zhe Wang5 1Department of Psychology, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, 312000, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Education, Jilin International Studies University, Changchun, 130000, People’s Republic of China; 3The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, People’s Republic of China; 5School of Pharmacology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhe Wang, Email [email protected]: Individuals who initiate the concealment of their adverse or distressing thoughts from others can trigger off negative psychological experiences and social isolation, and lead to poorer health. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS) in Chinese older adults.Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 1085 elderly people using convenience sampling and snowball sampling. Scales used included the SCS, Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (RCBS), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Social Phobia Scale (SPS), UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10).Results: The SCS consisted of 10 items with a one-dimensional structure, explaining 55.66% of the variance. The factor loading values for each item ranged from 0.68 to 0.75, and the covariance ranged from 0.46 to 0.57. Confirmatory factor analysis showed good model fit (χ 2/df=2.829, RMSEA=0.057, CFI=0.981, IFI=0.981, TLI=0.974, PNFI=0.712, PGFI=0.719). The criterion-related validity test found that the SCS was significantly and positively correlated with the RCBS, SIAS, SPS, ULS-8, K10, depression, and anxiety; and the SCS was significantly and negatively correlated with the DDI. The Cronbach’s α coefficient value for the scale was 0.923; the split-half reliability coefficient value was 0.923. In addition, the SCS had cross-gender consistency.Conclusion: The SCS has good reliability and validity in older adults and can be used as a valid tool to assess self-concealment among older people.Keywords: older adult, self-concealment, reliability, validity

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