Evaluating two morningness scales with item response theory

A more accurate assessment of circadian typology is achieved by asking persons to indicate their preferred times rather than comparing themselves with most people

The aim of the present work was to compare two circadian questionnaires: the Preference Scale (PS) and the reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). A sample of 849 (35.10% men) university students, 421 of whom were Spanish (27.55% men; mean age 21.07 + 2.31) and 428 Italian (42.52% men; mean age 23.26 + 3.01), were administered both questionnaires. Gender (higher morningness in women) and nationality (higher eveningness in Spaniards) differences were replicated with rMEQ but not with PS, in which an inverse association between nationality and circadian preference was observed (i.e. higher morningness in Spaniards). Taking into account that the formulation of the rMEQ items, with its specific times, makes the answers less influenced by socio-cultural bias, we conclude that rMEQ is preferable to PS when evaluating circadian preference in young adults.

An evaluation of morningness and schedule misfit using the revised Preferences Scale (PS-6): Implications for work and health outcomes among healthcare workers

The last several decades of shift work tolerance and circadian misalignment research has had mixed results regarding the adverse impact of shift work on work and health outcomes. This inconsistency is, in part, due to the circadian typology measure employed and the study methodology. Based on models of shift work and health, the present study examined associations between circadian misalignment, end-of-day strain, and job- and health-related outcomes using the revised Preferences Scale (PS-6). A sample of 129 healthcare workers (76.7% female) from the United States (67%) and Australia (34.1%) aged 22 to 64 responded to a self-report questionnaire on work schedules, work stressors, and well-being. Multiple regression analysis found that the preferences for cognitive activity subscale of the PS-6 moderated the association between shift work and strain (b = -.36, p < .001). Those who worked nights experienced more strain if their preferences for cognitive activity were misaligned, whereas no differences in strain were observed among day workers. Moderated-mediation analyses, on the basis 95% confidence intervals, found that shift work had a conditional indirect effect on work-family conflict, job satisfaction, and health-related quality of life, via strain, and the effect was moderated by preferences for cognitive activity. Findings provide additional evidence for the criterion and external validity of the PS-6, and importantly, the present study establishes further support for models of shift work and health. Overall, the analyses highlight the importance of exploring the interactions between shift work and different dimensions of morningness in shift work tolerance research.

Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the purpose in life test - Short form (PIL-SF) in seven Latin American countries

The aim was to test the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL-SF in a sample of people from seven Latin American countries. Additionally, the characteristics of the PIL-SF items were evaluated and to assess the relationship between purpose in life, as measured by the PIL-SF, and fear of COVID-19. A total of 4306 people from seven Latin American countries participated in the study. The results indicated that the PIL-SF is invariant in the seven participating countries and, therefore, there is evidence that the items reflect the purpose of life in the same way in all countries. This allows comparisons of purpose in life between countries that are free of bias, reflecting the true differences in how countries respond to items. From IRT, the discrimination parameters are adequate and indicate that the items cover a wide range of the purpose in life construct. The difficulty parameters are adequate and increase monotonically. This indicates that people would need a higher level of purpose in life to respond to the higher response categories. Thus, the PIL-SF items would be useful in determining people with a relatively high degree of purpose in life. Identifying people with different levels of purpose in life would allow them to be part of intervention programs, either to support those with low levels or to maintain and reinforce their purpose in life. The evidence of cross-country measurement invariance of the PIL-SF provides a measure to be used in cross-cultural studies about the meaning of life.

Assessment of the Mate Retention Inventory-Short Form Using Item Response Theory

The mate retention inventory (MRI) has been a valuable tool in the field of evolutionary psychology for the past 30 years. The goal of the current research is to subject the MRI to rigorous psychometric analysis using item response theory to answer three broad questions. Do the individual items of the MRI fit the scale well? Does the overall function of the MRI match what is predicted? Finally, do men and women respond similarly to the MRI? Using a graded response model, it was found that all but two of the items fit acceptable model patterns. Test information function analysis found that the scale acceptably captures individual differences for participants with a high degree of mate retention but the scale is lacking in capturing information from participants with a low degree of mate retention. Finally, discriminate item function analysis reveals that the MRI is better at assessing male than female participants, indicating that the scale may not be the best indicator of female behavior in a relationship. Overall, we conclude that the MRI is a good scale, especially for assessing male behavior, but it could be improved for assessing female behavior and individuals lower on overall mate retention behavior. It is suggested that this paper be used as a framework for how the newest psychometrics techniques can be applied in order to create more robust and valid measures in the field of evolutionary psychology.

Reliability of the Spanish version of the Composite Scale of Morningness

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of the Spanish version of Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) and its ability to measure the circadian typology.

Subjects and methods

Voluntary and unpaid psychology students (N = 391; 132 men and 259 women), aged between 17 and 33, completed the questionnaire between the months of September and December.

Results

The total score was independent of age and gender, with a close to normal distribution and a non-significant negative skewness. The internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.87) and factor analysis extracted three factors labeled Time of Retiring (items 2 and 7), Activity Planning (items 8, 9, and 13) and Morning Affect (items 3–6, and 10–12). With the 10th and 90th percentiles as cut-off scores, scorers below 22 (N = 40; 10.2%) are classified as evening-types and scorers above 39 as morning-types (N = 28; 7.2%).

Conclusion

The Spanish questionnaire shares most of the good psychometric properties of other versions of the CSM, and thus can be used for Spanish-speaking student samples. Nevertheless, further studies of normative data in workers and aged subjects are needed in order to validate CSM.

Psychometric properties of a Japanese version of Composite Scale of Morningness

This study aimed to assess the factor structure and validity of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) in Japanese samples. A sample of 348 Japanese university students (196 men, 152 women) and 170 adults from the community (50 men, 120 women) completed a questionnaire including the CSM, the Diurnal Type Scale (DTS) and questions regarding sleeping and waking times. Four measurement models were compared, and a two-factor measurement model with Morningness/Time of day preference (α = 0.78) and Morning Affect/Alertness (α = 0.80) factors yielded the closest fit. Both Morningness/Time of day preference and Morning Affect/Alertness were positively correlated with DTS score. Morningness/Ttime of day preference was negatively correlated with the midpoint of sleep on weekdays and free days. The measurement model was invariant across the university and community groups. The community group, which was older, was characterized by greater morningness. The results provide evidence of the validity of the Japanese CSM, thus opening up the possibility of including Japanese samples in cross-cultural research on morningness.

Item reduction and validation of the Chinese version of diabetes quality-of-life measure (DQOL)

BACKGROUND

The Diabetes Quality-of-Life (DQOL) Measure is a 46-item diabetes-specific quality of life instrument. The original English version of the DQOL has been translated into Chinese after cultural adaption, and the Chinese DQOL has been validated in the Chinese diabetic patient population and used in diabetes-related studies. There are two recognized problems with the Chinese DQOL: 1) the instrument is too long, and 2) the non-response rate of certain items is relatively high. This study aimed to develop and validate a short version for the Chinese DQOL.

METHODS

Item reduction was conducted based on the classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT), each combined with exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Spearman correlation coefficient were employed in validating the short versions.

RESULTS

Both the study sample (n = 2,886) and the validation sample (n = 2,286) were from a longitudinal observation study of Chinese type 2 diabetic patients. The CTT kept 32 items, and the IRT kept 24 items from the original 46-item version. The two short versions were comparable in psychometric properties.

CONCLUSION

The 24-item IRT-based short version of the Chinese DQOL was selected as the preferred short version because it imposes a lower burden on patients without compromising the psychometric properties of the instrument.

Circadian preferences in young adults: Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Portuguese version of the Preferences Scale (PS-6)

Morningness is a trait-like variable which has been extensively studied within chronobiology. Despite the number of existing measures to assess morningness, there is a need for brief instruments that are psychometrically sound to be used in applied settings. Accordingly, the modified version of the Preferences Scale (PS-6) comprises six items and was reported to have adequate reliability and satisfactory validity indicators. In this article, the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the PS-6 are reported. A total of 700 students attending medical school were recruited, and this sample was randomly divided into two groups. In the first group (n = 352), we assessed the internal consistency calculations and conducted a principal component analysis of the posited structure. In the second group (n = 348), we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using structural equation modeling. Overall, the results indicated that the PS-6 has adequate reliability (α = .75) and is constituted by two components: (I) preferred cognitive activities timings and (II) preferred sleeping-eating timings, respectively. In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the PS seems suitable for use in research and applied settings such as shift work schedules management. However, the applicability of the PS-6 in other samples and further validity indicators should be both investigated. The use of actigraphy and biological measures should also be collected to enhance the robustness of the PS-6.

Evening typology and morning tiredness associates with low leisure time physical activity and high sitting

Circadian typology is a latent trait that is usually assessed with scoring on a series of questions thought to represent the construct. But, in the classification, most people fall into the intermediate type, i.e. neither a definite morning nor an evening type, but still showing stronger preference towards either end of the continuum. Our aim was to operationalize chronotype using latent class analysis (LCA) for a 6-item scale derived from the original Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire to compare and understand characteristics of chronotype in a population-based sample of adults in Finland. A total of 4904 men and women aged 25-74 years were included. We also analyzed the associations of chronotypes with physical activity (PA) and sitting. We found five latent chronotype groups including "rested more-evening type" (28%), "rested more-morning type" (24%), "morning type" (23%), "tired more-evening type" (17%) and "evening type" (8%) groups. Operationalization of chronotype by LCA suggests that morning alertness is an important feature differentiating chronotypes. Further, the "evening type" and the "tired, more-evening type" had higher odds for none to very low as well as low PA, as compared to "morning type". In addition, "evening type" was associated with higher odds for more time spent sitting, as compared to "morning type". Our findings indicate that it is important to assess sleep schedules and morning tiredness, which then could be targeted as a potential mediating factor for health behaviors, in particular, PA and health status.

Composite and Preferences Scales of Morningness: Reliability and Factor Invariance in Adult and University Samples

The creation and adaptation of scales or inventories assessing specific circadian typologies has been a predominant focus within the field of chronopsychology. The present study addressed the psychometric properties of two scales of morningness-eveningness: the Morningness Composite Scale (CS; Smith, Reilly, & Midkiff, 1989) and the Early/Late Preferences Scale (PS; Smith, Folkard, Schmieder, Parra, Spelten, & Almirall, 1993). Internal consistency and factor invariance of the CS and PS were analyzed in two samples: a group of 203 university students (age range = 19-30) and a group of 125 working adults (age range = 31-65). Results indicated satisfactory internal consistency for both full scales with each age group and confirmed the factor invariance across age for the two CS factors and one of the PS factors. A higher tendency in morningness on both scales was noted in the adult sample.

Reviewing the psychometric properties of contemporary circadian typology measures

The accurate measurement of circadian typology (CT) is critical because the construct has implications for a number of health disorders. In this review, we focus on the evidence to support the reliability and validity of the more commonly used CT scales: the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), and the Preferences Scale (PS). In addition, we also consider the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ). In terms of reliability, the MEQ, CSM, and PS consistently report high levels of reliability (>0.80), whereas the reliability of the rMEQ is satisfactory. The stability of these scales is sound at follow-up periods up to 13 mos. The MCTQ is not a scale; therefore, its reliability cannot be assessed. Although it is possible to determine the stability of the MCTQ, these data are yet to be reported. Validity must be given equal weight in assessing the measurement properties of CT instruments. Most commonly reported is convergent and construct validity. The MEQ, rMEQ, and CSM are highly correlated and this is to be expected, given that these scales share common items. The level of agreement between the MCTQ and the MEQ is satisfactory, but the correlation between these two constructs decreases in line with the number of "corrections" applied to the MCTQ. The interesting question is whether CT is best represented by a psychological preference for behavior or by using a biomarker such as sleep midpoint. Good-quality subjective and objective data suggest adequate construct validity for each of the CT instruments, but a major limitation of this literature is studies that assess the predictive validity of these instruments. We make a number of recommendations with the aim of advancing science. Future studies need to (1) focus on collecting data from representative samples that consider a number of environmental factors; (2) employ longitudinal designs to allow the predictive validity of CT measures to be assessed and preferably make use of objective data; (3) employ contemporary statistical approaches, including structural equation modeling and item-response models; and (4) provide better information concerning sample selection and a rationale for choosing cutoff points.

Circadian typology: a comprehensive review

The interest in the systematic study of the circadian typology (CT) is relatively recent and has developed rapidly in the two last decades. All the existing data suggest that this individual difference affects our biological and psychological functioning, not only in health, but also in disease. In the present study, we review the current literature concerning the psychometric properties and validity of CT measures as well as individual, environmental and genetic factors that influence the CT. We present a brief overview of the biological markers that are used to define differences between CT groups (sleep-wake cycle, body temperature, cortisol and melatonin), and we assess the implications for CT and adjustment to shiftwork and jet lag. We also review the differences between CT in terms of cognitive abilities, personality traits and the incidence of psychiatric disorders. When necessary, we have emphasized the methodological limitations that exist today and suggested some future avenues of work in order to overcome these. This is a new field of interest to professionals in many different areas (research, labor, academic and clinical), and this review provides a state of the art discussion to allow professionals to integrate chronobiological aspects of human behavior into their daily practice.

An item response theory and factor analytic examination of two prominent maximizing tendency scales

The current study examines the construct validity of the Maximization Scale (MS; Schwartz et al., 2002) and the Maximization Tendency Scale (MTS; Diab et al., 2008) as well as the nomological net of the maximizing construct. We find that both scales of maximizing suffer psychometrically, especially in their proposed dimensionality. Using confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory (IRT) we identify and remove three problematic items from the MTS and six problematic items from the MS. Additionally, we find that the MS appears to be measuring difficulty and restlessness with the search for the best alternative, whereas the MTS is more focused on the search for the best option, regardless of choice difficulty. We then examined these revised scales in relation to other psychological constructs in the nomological net for maximizing and found that maximizers may not be unhappy but are generally distressed in the decision-making context. Finally, we suggest that future maximizng research use revised form of the MTS that seems to us to be most consistent with the original concept of maximizing/satisficing.

The Maximization Inventory

We present the Maximization Inventory, which consists of three separate scales: decision difficulty, alternative search, and satisficing. We show that the items of the Maximization Inventory have much better psychometric properties when compared to the original Maximization Scale (Schwartz et al., 2002). The satisficing scale is a new addition to the study of maximization behavior, and we demonstrate that this scale is positively correlated with positive adaptation, whereas the decision difficulty and alternative search scales are positively correlated with nonproductive decisional behavior. The Maximization Inventory was then compared to previous maximization scales and, while the decision difficulty and alternative search scales are positively correlated with similar previous constructs, the satisficing scale offers a dimension entirely different from maximization.

Studies of the dimensionality, correlates, and meaning of measures of the maximizing tendency

This series of four studies was designed to clarify the underlying dimensionality and psychological well-being correlates of the major extant measures of the maximization tendency: the Maximization Scale (MS; Schwarz et al., 2002) and the Maximization Tendency Scale (MTS; Diab et al., 2008). Four studies using psychometric and factor analysis, item response theory (IRT), and an experimental manipulation all supported the following conclusions. The MS does measure three separate factors as postulated by its authors, but only two of them (alternative search and decisional difficulty) are correlated with each other and (negatively) with indices of well-being as postulated by the scale authors; high standards, the third factor, correlated strongly with the MTS, and both of these were strongly correlated with positive indices of well-being (optimism and happiness) and functioning (e.g., self-esteem and self-efficacy). The high standards subscale and MTS were related to analytical decision making style, while alternative search and decision difficulty were related to the regret-based decision making style and to procrastination. The IRT analysis indicated serious weaknesses in the measurement capabilities of existing scales, and the findings of the experimental study confirmed that alternative search and decision difficulty are related to the maximization tendency while high standards and MTS are not. Implications for further research and scale development are discussed.

Using Item Response Theory and Adaptive Testing in Online Career Assessment

The present article describes the potential utility of item response theory (IRT) and adaptive testing for scale evaluation and for web-based career assessment. The article describes the principles of both IRT and adaptive testing and then illustrates these with reference to data analyses and simulation studies of the Career Confidence Inventory (CCI). The kinds of information provided by IRT are shown to give a more precise look at scale quality across the trait continuum and also to permit the use of adaptive testing, where the items administered are tailored to the individual being tested. Such tailoring can significantly reduce testing time while maintaining high quality of measurement. This efficiency is especially useful when multiscale inventories and/or a large number of scales are to be administered. Readers are encouraged to consider using these advances in career assessment.

Morningness-eveningness preferences and academic achievement of university students

The present study investigates whether the circadian preferences of students are related to their academic achievements. This study explores whether different class times affect students' achievement and examines the performance of students on final exams administered at 09:30 h for differences according to chronotype. A total of 1471 university students between 18 and 25 yrs of age responded to a morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ), and data on their cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) were also collected from their transcripts. Some of the students in the sample attended classes during the first teaching period, which started at 08:00 h and ended at 14:50 h, and the remaining students followed the second schedule, which started at 15:00 h and ended at 21:50 h. MEQ scores were found to differ by sex. MEQ scores partially predicted academic success and that students' academic achievements differed according to the time of the teaching period. Moreover, final exam (administered at 09:30 h) scores differed with respect to their circadian preferences; students with a morning preference achieved higher scores than either those with an evening or intermediate preference. Both teaching and test start times thus impact academic performance.

A Psychometric Evaluation and Validation of the Preferences Scale

The Preferences Scale (PS) is a new measure of morningness and therefore requires intensive investigation to establish its measurement properties and validity. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of Smith and colleagues (2002) posited model structure was not optimal in both a student (n = 731) and working sample (n = 218). However, significant differences (p < 0.01) were found for times to sleep and wake between morning and evening types. Principal components and reliability analyses were used to develop a 6-item model comprising 2 factors using a student sample (n = 368). Cronbach's alpha for the PS was 0.73 and the factors explained 61% of the variance. The revised model was replicated via CFA in a separate student sample (n = 363). A subsequent CFA confirmed the model structure in the working sample. Cronbach's alpha was 0.74 and the factors explained 64% of the variance. Significant differences (p < 0.01) in self-reported alertness ratings between morning and evening types were obtained by time-of-day. These results provide preliminary support for the PS. The predictive efficacy of the PS requires further validation against a number of health and work-related variables.

Transcultural properties of the composite scale of morningness: the relevance of the "morning affect" factor

Morningness scales have been translated into several languages, but a lack of normative data and methodological differences make cross-cultural comparisons difficult. This study examines the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) in samples from five countries: France (n = 627), Italy (n = 702), Spain (n = 391), Thailand (n = 503), and Australia (n = 654). Strong national differences are identified. A quadratic relationship between age and CSM total score was apparent in the Australian data with a downward trend after age 35 yrs. There was no age effect in any sample in the range from 18 to 29 yrs. Factor analysis identified a three-factor solution in all groups for both men and women. Tucker's congruence coefficients indicate that: (1) this solution is highly congruent between sexes in each culture, and (2) a morning affect factor is highly congruent between cultures. These results indicate there are national differences in factorial structure and that cut-off scores used to categorize participants as morning- and evening-types should be established for different cultural and age groups.

Composite scales of morningness and preferences: preliminary validity data in Peruvian undergraduates

The aim of this study is to offer preliminary results about the validity of the composite morningness scale (CS) and the early/late preferences scale (PS) in a Peruvian sample. The relationship of both scales with the preferred rising and retiring times was analysed, along with the level of self-reported alertness. In Bohle et al.'s (2001) work, the relationship between morningness and preferred rising and retiring times was higher over the weekend than on weekdays. This difference explained the dispositional nature of morningness, due to the possible lesser influence of time schedules over the weekend in individuals' preferences. This result is replicated in a group of 139 Peruvian undergraduates, aged between 18 and 29 years (M = 21.73), of whom 78.4% were women. The relationship between morningness and (actual) normal rising and retiring times on weekdays and over the weekend is considered. The results partially confirm Bohle et al.'s (2001) hypothesis about preferred rising and retiring times and their relationship with the PS, and actual rising time and its relationship with the CS and PS. The differences in the level of self-reported alertness between morning, intermediate and evening-oriented groups provide support for the validity of both scales. Finally, the scores of CS and PS in Peruvian undergraduates are similar to those found by Smith et al. (2002) in university students from six countries.

Validation of Horne and Ostberg morningness-eveningness questionnaire in a middle-aged population of French workers

As suggested by the authors, the Horne and Ostberg morning/evening questionnaire (MEQ) has never been adapted to evaluate a nonstudent population. The purpose of this study was to validate this MEQ in a sample of middle-aged workers by modifying only the cutoffs. It was administered in 566 non-shift-workers aged 51.2 to 3.2 years who presented no sleep disorders. According to the Home and Ostberg classification, the sample consisted of 62.1% morning type, 36.6% neither type, and 2.2% evening type. Multiple correspondence analysis, which determines the principal components, was performed on all MEQ items. Then an ascending hierarchical classification was applied to determine 3 clusters from these principal components. On the basis of these 3 clusters, new cutoffs were determined: evening types were considered as scoring under 53 and morning types above 64, thus giving 28.1% morning type, 51.7% neither type, and 20.2% evening type. As an external validation, eveningness was associated with later bedtime and waking-up time (more pronounced at the weekend), greater need for sleep, larger daily sleep debt, greater morning sleepiness, and ease of returning to sleep in the early morning. A positive correlation between age and morningness was again found. This study confirms that "owls" are not rare in a middle-aged sample. We conclude that this adapted MEQ could be useful when investigating age-related changes in sleep.