Loneliness in adolescence: a Rasch analysis of the Perth A-loneness scale
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Loneliness in adolescence: a Rasch analysis of the Perth A‑loneness scale Stephen Houghton1,2 · Ida Marais1 · Simon C. Hunter1,2 · Annemaree Carroll3 · David Lawrence1 · Carol Tan4 Accepted: 5 September 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Purpose The psychometric properties of the Perth A-loneness Scale (PALs) have been extensively validated using classical test theory, but to date no studies have applied a Rasch analysis. The purpose of this study was to validate the PALs four subscales, using Rasch analysis. Methods Responses from 1484 adolescents (58% female, mean age = 12.8 years), 131 of whom had a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder, from 10 Western Australian secondary schools were included in the Rasch analysis. Overall fit, individual item fit, local response dependence, dimensionality, operation of response categories, and differential item functioning (DIF) were examined. Results The Rasch analysis supported the factor structure of the PALs. A reasonable to high reliability was obtained for each of the subscales. Participants did not distinguish consistently between the higher categories ‘very often’ and ‘always’ on three of the subscales. No item showed Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for neurodevelopmental disorder status and age. One item on each of the Positive and Negative Attitude to Aloneness subscales showed DIF for gender. Conclusion The results support the interval scale measurement properties of the PALs and provide clinicians and researchers with a measure to assess adolescent loneliness, a construct strongly associated with a constellation of mental health problems. Keywords Rasch model · Loneliness · Adolescents · Psychometrics
* Stephen Houghton [email protected] Ida Marais [email protected] Simon C. Hunter [email protected] Annemaree Carroll [email protected] David Lawrence [email protected] Carol Tan [email protected] 1
Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
2
School of Psychological and Health Sciences, The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
3
School of Education, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
4
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
Introduction Loneliness is a debilitating psychological condition characterised by a deep sense of social isolation, emptiness, worthlessness, lack of control, pain, and personal threat [1]. It can even manifest among those surrounded by many people or with numerous contacts, followers, or friends on social media [2]. Definitions of loneliness converge on a construct that is a distressing emotional state people experience when they notice a discrepancy in the desired and perceived quality or quantity of their social relations [3, 4]. Although 80% of adolescents experience feelings of loneliness at some time, approximately 22% experience it in a chronic, persistent, and even pathological form [5]. This is clinically relevant because of t
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