Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 6 (Campus), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Department of Communication, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
BMC Psychol. 2023 May 30;11(1):173. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01206-2.
The 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).
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
不确定性的体验在全球范围内普遍存在。许多现有的不确定性测量工具都集中在不确定性的一个方面，例如患有危及生命疾病的患者，因此缺少一种从社会文化角度考虑（慢性）不确定性作为整体体验的测量方法。此外，目前的工具没有考虑到用于测量慢性不确定性的扩展时间范围。本研究的目的是验证经过翻译的德文版 20 项慢性不确定性量表（CU-20）。
全样本包括 N=462 名参与者。大多数参与者是年轻的德国公民，性别分布相对平衡（女性占 60%；平均年龄：M=24.56；SD=4.78）。使用等分样本，进行探索性因素分析（EFA）评估 CU-20 的因素结构，然后进行验证性因素分析（CFA）以检验既定的因素结构。评估了男女组之间的测量不变性。显示了六因素模型的内部一致性，并针对慢性应激显示了量表的区分度。
EFA 结果显示，五因素结构的模型拟合较好，但基于 CFA 结果，理论上建立的六因素模型明显更好地拟合数据。显示男女组之间的测量不变性是明显的标度不变性。Cronbach's alpha、omega 和 lambda 均支持 CU-20 的内部一致性和可靠性。
与现有的量表相比，CU-20 是一种测量慢性不确定性状态的有效且可靠的工具，反映了个体对宏观社会形式不确定性的体验。该量表在移民、难民或全球危机背景下特别有用。需要在更多样化的样本中进行进一步的心理测量测试，并建议更深入地研究测量不变性。
