TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring dysfunctional attitudes in the general population
T2 - The dysfunctional attitude scale (form A) revised
AU - De Graaf, L.E.
AU - Roelofs, J.
AU - Huibers, M.J.H.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was designed to measure the intensity of dysfunctional attitudes, a hallmark feature of depression. Various exploratory factor analytic studies of the DAS form A (DAS-A) yielded mixed results. The current study was set up to compare the fit of various factor models. We used a large community sample (N = 8,960) to test the previously proposed factor models of the DAS-A using confirmatory factor analysis. The retained model of the DAS-A was subjected to reliability and validity analyses. All models showed good fit to the data. Finally, a two-factor solution of the DAS-A was retained, consisting of 17 items. The factors demonstrated good reliability and convergent construct validity. Significant associations were found with depression. Norm-scores were presented. We advocate the use of a 17-item DAS-A, which proved to be useful in measuring dysfunctional beliefs. On the basis of previous psychometric studies, our study provides solid evidence for a two-factor model of the DAS-A, consisting of 'dependency' and 'perfectionism/performance evaluation'.
AB - The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was designed to measure the intensity of dysfunctional attitudes, a hallmark feature of depression. Various exploratory factor analytic studies of the DAS form A (DAS-A) yielded mixed results. The current study was set up to compare the fit of various factor models. We used a large community sample (N = 8,960) to test the previously proposed factor models of the DAS-A using confirmatory factor analysis. The retained model of the DAS-A was subjected to reliability and validity analyses. All models showed good fit to the data. Finally, a two-factor solution of the DAS-A was retained, consisting of 17 items. The factors demonstrated good reliability and convergent construct validity. Significant associations were found with depression. Norm-scores were presented. We advocate the use of a 17-item DAS-A, which proved to be useful in measuring dysfunctional beliefs. On the basis of previous psychometric studies, our study provides solid evidence for a two-factor model of the DAS-A, consisting of 'dependency' and 'perfectionism/performance evaluation'.
KW - Depression
KW - Dysfunctional attitude scale
KW - Factor structure
KW - General population
KW - Psychometric analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68149122314&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10608-009-9229-y
DO - 10.1007/s10608-009-9229-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:68149122314
SN - 0147-5916
VL - 33
SP - 345
EP - 355
JO - Cognitive Therapy and Research
JF - Cognitive Therapy and Research
IS - 4
ER -