Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment

BACKGROUND: Noise sensitivity (NS) is a key construct in the fields of hygiene, planning and occupational medicine. It refers to a personality trait representing the reactivity to noise and is associated with various psycho-physiological health outcomes. AIM: This study aimed to develop a shorter ve...

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Main Authors: Dzhambov Angel M., Dimitrova Donka D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2014-08-01
Series:Folia Medica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/folmed.2014.56.issue-2/folmed-2014-0017/folmed-2014-0017.xml?format=INT
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author Dzhambov Angel M.
Dimitrova Donka D.
author_facet Dzhambov Angel M.
Dimitrova Donka D.
author_sort Dzhambov Angel M.
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Noise sensitivity (NS) is a key construct in the fields of hygiene, planning and occupational medicine. It refers to a personality trait representing the reactivity to noise and is associated with various psycho-physiological health outcomes. AIM: This study aimed to develop a shorter version of the original Noise Sensitivity Questionnaire (NoiSeQ), retaining its dimensions and assess its validity and reliability. METHODS: A test-retest study was carried out in a convenience sample of 56 participants. A short 15-item form of the original NoiSeQ (NoiSeQSF) questionnaire was developed and then administered. All major analyses were based on the coeffi cient of equivalence and stability, the generalizability theory and linear regression. RESULTS: Relative (ρ = 0.83) and absolute (ρ = 0.80) G coefficients for global NS exceeded the lower reliability limit according to G- and D-studies. Sleep subscale can readily be used to assess sleep-related NS (ρ = 0.76/θ = 0.75). Moreover, NoiSeQSF predicted some cardiac symptoms (with age of participants as a moderator factor), which demonstrated nomological validity. CONCLUSION: NoiSeQSF is a reliable estimate for global NS and NS related to sleep quality. It might prove useful to experts in environmental hygiene, urban planning and occupational diseases when dealing with noise-impaired occupational, social or psycho-physiological functioning.
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spelling doaj.art-96e88734b2ec451dbee641a5f9fcb0782022-12-22T01:36:01ZengPensoft PublishersFolia Medica1314-21432014-08-0156211612510.2478/folmed-2014-0017folmed-2014-0017Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity AssessmentDzhambov Angel M.0Dimitrova Donka D.1Faculty of Medicine, 2Department of Health Care Management, Health Economics and Primary CareFaculty of Public Health, Medical University Plovdiv, BulgariaBACKGROUND: Noise sensitivity (NS) is a key construct in the fields of hygiene, planning and occupational medicine. It refers to a personality trait representing the reactivity to noise and is associated with various psycho-physiological health outcomes. AIM: This study aimed to develop a shorter version of the original Noise Sensitivity Questionnaire (NoiSeQ), retaining its dimensions and assess its validity and reliability. METHODS: A test-retest study was carried out in a convenience sample of 56 participants. A short 15-item form of the original NoiSeQ (NoiSeQSF) questionnaire was developed and then administered. All major analyses were based on the coeffi cient of equivalence and stability, the generalizability theory and linear regression. RESULTS: Relative (ρ = 0.83) and absolute (ρ = 0.80) G coefficients for global NS exceeded the lower reliability limit according to G- and D-studies. Sleep subscale can readily be used to assess sleep-related NS (ρ = 0.76/θ = 0.75). Moreover, NoiSeQSF predicted some cardiac symptoms (with age of participants as a moderator factor), which demonstrated nomological validity. CONCLUSION: NoiSeQSF is a reliable estimate for global NS and NS related to sleep quality. It might prove useful to experts in environmental hygiene, urban planning and occupational diseases when dealing with noise-impaired occupational, social or psycho-physiological functioning.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/folmed.2014.56.issue-2/folmed-2014-0017/folmed-2014-0017.xml?format=INTnoise sensitivitycardiac symptomsinstrument validationgeneralizability theory
spellingShingle Dzhambov Angel M.
Dimitrova Donka D.
Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
Folia Medica
noise sensitivity
cardiac symptoms
instrument validation
generalizability theory
title Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
title_full Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
title_fullStr Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
title_short Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
title_sort validating a short bulgarian version of a psychometric instrument for multidimensional noise sensitivity assessment
topic noise sensitivity
cardiac symptoms
instrument validation
generalizability theory
url http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/folmed.2014.56.issue-2/folmed-2014-0017/folmed-2014-0017.xml?format=INT
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