The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation
Background Feelings of emptiness are commonly reported as deeply distressing experiences. Despite established relationships between emptiness and many mental health difficulties, alongside self-harm and suicide, further study into this phenomenon has been restricted by vague definition and clinical...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242300649X/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797336257674608640 |
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| author | Shona Joyce Herron Rob Saunders Fabio Sani Janet Feigenbaum |
| author_facet | Shona Joyce Herron Rob Saunders Fabio Sani Janet Feigenbaum |
| author_sort | Shona Joyce Herron |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
Feelings of emptiness are commonly reported as deeply distressing experiences. Despite established relationships between emptiness and many mental health difficulties, alongside self-harm and suicide, further study into this phenomenon has been restricted by vague definition and clinical measures with limited utility. Recently the first definition validated by individuals with lived experience of emptiness has been conceptualised, providing an opportunity to create a new measure of emptiness.
Aims
This study aimed to psychometrically evaluate the 31-item Psychological Emptiness Scale (PES), identifying redundancy, and thus creating a psychometrically robust scale with optimised clinical utility.
Method
Utilising an online survey design, 768 participants completed the 31 items of the initial PES alongside other measures of mental health. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and item response theory employed to identify item redundancy and reduce test burden. Expert clinicians provided ratings of each item's clinical relevance and, combined with the psychometric analysis, led to the removal of a number of items. Confirmatory factor analysis was then undertaken. Reliability including test–retest, validity and sensitivity of the measure were evaluated.
Results
A two-factor structure encompassing ‘nothingness’ and ‘detachment’ was identified, and found to have acceptable fit. The resulting 19-item PES was found to have internal consistency (α = 0.95), convergent validity and test–retest reliability.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated strong psychometric properties of the PES. The PES has potential to support research into the role of emptiness in psychological distress and treatment in clinical practice.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:51:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3da0c4839ac4ee4b910e2a1cb400866 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:51:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3da0c4839ac4ee4b910e2a1cb4008662024-02-01T09:34:09ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242024-03-011010.1192/bjo.2023.649The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluationShona Joyce Herron0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7737-1526Rob Saunders1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7077-8729Fabio Sani2Janet Feigenbaum3Acute Mental Health Services, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK; and Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UKCORE Data Lab, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UKDivision of Psychology, University of Dundee, UKDepartment of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UKBackground Feelings of emptiness are commonly reported as deeply distressing experiences. Despite established relationships between emptiness and many mental health difficulties, alongside self-harm and suicide, further study into this phenomenon has been restricted by vague definition and clinical measures with limited utility. Recently the first definition validated by individuals with lived experience of emptiness has been conceptualised, providing an opportunity to create a new measure of emptiness. Aims This study aimed to psychometrically evaluate the 31-item Psychological Emptiness Scale (PES), identifying redundancy, and thus creating a psychometrically robust scale with optimised clinical utility. Method Utilising an online survey design, 768 participants completed the 31 items of the initial PES alongside other measures of mental health. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and item response theory employed to identify item redundancy and reduce test burden. Expert clinicians provided ratings of each item's clinical relevance and, combined with the psychometric analysis, led to the removal of a number of items. Confirmatory factor analysis was then undertaken. Reliability including test–retest, validity and sensitivity of the measure were evaluated. Results A two-factor structure encompassing ‘nothingness’ and ‘detachment’ was identified, and found to have acceptable fit. The resulting 19-item PES was found to have internal consistency (α = 0.95), convergent validity and test–retest reliability. Conclusions This study demonstrated strong psychometric properties of the PES. The PES has potential to support research into the role of emptiness in psychological distress and treatment in clinical practice. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242300649X/type/journal_articleEmptinesspersonality disordersrating scalessuicideclinical outcomes measures |
| spellingShingle | Shona Joyce Herron Rob Saunders Fabio Sani Janet Feigenbaum The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation BJPsych Open Emptiness personality disorders rating scales suicide clinical outcomes measures |
| title | The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation |
| title_full | The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation |
| title_fullStr | The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation |
| title_short | The Psychological Emptiness Scale: a psychometric evaluation |
| title_sort | psychological emptiness scale a psychometric evaluation |
| topic | Emptiness personality disorders rating scales suicide clinical outcomes measures |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242300649X/type/journal_article |
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