Hyperarousal, depression and quality of life--validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Hyperarousal Scale.
OBJECTIVE
Research focusing on hyperarousability in association with general sensitivity to stress has increased. This study aimed to: (i) describe values for self-reported hyperarousal behaviour traits, depression, sleeplessness behaviour and health-related quality of life [The Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36)] in a gender-stratified random sample from the Swedish population; and (ii) test the validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Hyperarousal Behavioural Trait Scale (H-scale).


METHODS
In this study, 402 women and 391 men from Sweden were included. A test-retest study was performed on 297 subjects.


RESULTS
The total mean score on the H-scale was 29.5 (SD 10.0, 95% CI 28.8-30.2). Compared to men, women scored higher on the H-scale (total score, sub-scales and many items), whereas no evidence of an age trend was seen. The H-scale has proven to be a valid and reliable scale. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed similar magnitude and direction between the H-scale and the Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale, as between the H-scale and the Vicious Cycle of Sleeplessness Behaviour Scale, Vitality, Mental Health and the Mental Component Summary index on the SF-36 respectively. The Cronbach's alpha for the H-scale was 0.84 and estimated stability test-retest point of time varies between 0.73 and 0.80.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates gender differences in response style in association with altered health-related quality of life. The H-scale is a valid and reliable self-reported scale for measuring hyperarousal behavioural trait research outcome in clinical practice.
Department of Medicine and Care, Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. ulled@imv.liu.se
Ulla
U
Edéll-Gustafsson
John
J
Carstensen
Quentin
Q
Regestein
Eva
E
Swahn
Eva
E
Svanborg
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001143:Arousal; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007439:Introversion, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D020921:Sleep Arousal Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013548:Sweden; D014175:Translating