Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37254124›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2023

Factor structure and psychometric properties of the german version chronic uncertainty scale (CU-20).

Ileana Schmalbach, Christina Diane Bastianon, Walid A Afifi, Gabriele Helga Franke, Andreas Hinz, Katja Petrowski

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Ileana Schmalbach *Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 6 (Campus), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Christina Diane Bastianon *Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 6 (Campus), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Walid A AfifiDepartment of Communication, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
Gabriele Helga FrankePsychology of Rehabilitation, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg and Stendal, Magdeburg, Germany.
Andreas HinzDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Katja PetrowskiFaculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of General, Technische Universität Dresden, Practice/MK3, Dresden, Germany. katja.petrowski@tu-dresden.de.
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · DEHochschule Magdeburg-Stendal · DELeipzig University · DEUniversity Hospital Carl Gustav Carus · DEUniversity of California, Santa Barbara · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe experience of uncertainty is ubiquitous and universal across the globe. Many available tools measuring uncertainty are focused on one aspect of uncertainty, e.g., patients with life-threatening illnesses, hence a measure considering (chronic) uncertainty as an integral experience reflect ongoing uncertainties from a socio-cultural perspective is missing. Additionally, current tools do not account for an extended timeframe to measure chronic forms of uncertainty. The objective of this study is to validate a translated German version of the 20 item Chronic Uncertainty Scale (CU-20).

methodsThe full sample comprised N = 462 participants. Most of the participants were young German citizens and the sex distribution was relatively balanced (60% females; age in average: M = 24.56; SD = 4.78). Using equally split samples, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) evaluated the CU-20 factor structure, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the established factor structure. Measurement invariance between male and female groups was evaluated. Internal consistency of the six-factor model was shown and scale discrimination was shown against chronic stress.

resultsThe EFA results showed decent model fit for the five-factor structure, however based on the CFA results, the theoretically established six-factor model fits the data significantly better. Measurement invariance between male and female groups was shown to be clearly scalar invariant. Cronbach's alpha, omega and lambda all support internal consistency and reliability of CU-20.

conclusionsThe CU-20 is a valid and reliable measure of one's state of chronic uncertainty reflecting the individuals' experiences of macrosocial forms of uncertainty, compared to the existing ones. This scale is especially useful in the context of migration, refugees or during global crises. Further psychometric testing is required in more diverse samples and a deeper look into measurement invariance is recommended.

Indexed as

PsychometricsFactor Analysis, StatisticalFemaleHumansMaleReproducibility of ResultsSurveys and QuestionnairesUncertaintyChronic stressChronic uncertaintyCU-20Factor analysisMeasurement invariancePsychometrics

Identifiers

PMID37254124
PMCPMC10228435
OpenAlexW4378781232

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.