title: Dimensional analysis of the Impact of Event Scale using structural equation modeling.
abstract: The dimensionality of the Impact of Event Scale (IES) was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Responses from 321 individuals (62% response) who had experienced a mass murder of seven people 8 months earlier were obtained. A model with a general factor and three subordinate specific factors--Intrusiveness, Avoidance, and Sleep Disturbance--was developed. Scores on the original IES subscales and the SEM factors were related to scores on the General Health Questionnaire. It was concluded that the original subscales could, to a certain degree, be regarded as a reflection of negative affectivity. A more differentiated pattern emerged using the specific latent variables from the SEM analysis.
authors.affiliation: National Defence College, Karlstad, Sweden. gerry.larsson@fhs.mil.se
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden