Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale
Abstract Background The present study examines the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the Client Attachment to Therapist Scale (CATS). The validity of the scale as originally proposed has recently been brought into question, as patients were identified as “pseudosecure”. Methods We...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-022-01548-2 |
| _version_ | 1819045690625490944 |
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| author | Katja Petrowski Bjarne Schmalbach Joram Ronel Ileana Schmalbach Elisabeth Olliges |
| author_facet | Katja Petrowski Bjarne Schmalbach Joram Ronel Ileana Schmalbach Elisabeth Olliges |
| author_sort | Katja Petrowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The present study examines the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the Client Attachment to Therapist Scale (CATS). The validity of the scale as originally proposed has recently been brought into question, as patients were identified as “pseudosecure”. Methods We examined the measure’s factorial structure, as well as reliability and validity towards related measures using a clinical sample of N = 354 participants. Results We found the original model, consisting of 36 items to be lacking in terms of model fit and construct validity. A shortened 12-item version exhibited markedly improved model fit and reliability. Correlations to related constructs demonstrated that none of the scale’s validity was lost by shortening it. Furthermore, we showed scalar invariance across groups of age and sex. Conclusions The shortened CATS-S can be recommended for future use in clinical research in German-speaking populations as a valid, reliable, and economical alternative to the longer version. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:32:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b8b1303436947c2a5e30d319564d8a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:32:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b8b1303436947c2a5e30d319564d8a52022-12-21T19:07:09ZengBMCBMC Medical Research Methodology1471-22882022-04-0122111210.1186/s12874-022-01548-2Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scaleKatja Petrowski0Bjarne Schmalbach1Joram Ronel2Ileana Schmalbach3Elisabeth Olliges4Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus an der Technischen Universität DresdenDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinik Barmelweid AGDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinik Barmelweid AGAbstract Background The present study examines the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the Client Attachment to Therapist Scale (CATS). The validity of the scale as originally proposed has recently been brought into question, as patients were identified as “pseudosecure”. Methods We examined the measure’s factorial structure, as well as reliability and validity towards related measures using a clinical sample of N = 354 participants. Results We found the original model, consisting of 36 items to be lacking in terms of model fit and construct validity. A shortened 12-item version exhibited markedly improved model fit and reliability. Correlations to related constructs demonstrated that none of the scale’s validity was lost by shortening it. Furthermore, we showed scalar invariance across groups of age and sex. Conclusions The shortened CATS-S can be recommended for future use in clinical research in German-speaking populations as a valid, reliable, and economical alternative to the longer version.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-022-01548-2Attachment representationTherapeutic relationshipPsychotherapyPsychometric evaluation |
| spellingShingle | Katja Petrowski Bjarne Schmalbach Joram Ronel Ileana Schmalbach Elisabeth Olliges Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale BMC Medical Research Methodology Attachment representation Therapeutic relationship Psychotherapy Psychometric evaluation |
| title | Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale |
| title_full | Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale |
| title_short | Evaluating the psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale |
| title_sort | evaluating the psychometric properties of the german adaptation of the client attachment to therapist scale |
| topic | Attachment representation Therapeutic relationship Psychotherapy Psychometric evaluation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-022-01548-2 |
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