title: Measuring appraisals following acquired spinal cord injury: a preliminary psychometric analysis of the appraisals of disability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to develop a reliable and valid appraisal scale (The Appraisals of DisAbility: Primary and Secondary Scale; ADAPSS) for adult spinal cord injury (SCI) populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Items for the ADAPSS were generated using themes and quotes from a qualitative study exploring appraisals made by individuals with SCI. The ADAPSS was administered with 2 additional appraisal measures, a measure of anxiety and depression, a measure of social desirability and demographic information. The study used a cross-sectional questionnaire design with a test-retest component, sampling community-based individuals with SCI. Data analysis was undertaken on 237 completed questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis revealed the ADAPSS to have a 6-factor structure and the following subscales identified: (a) Fearful Despondency, (b) Overwhelming Disbelief, (c) Determined Resolve, (d) Growth and Resilience, (e) Negative Perceptions of Disability, and (f) Personal Agency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary analyses suggest the ADAPSS demonstrates reasonable reliability and validity and has potential as a therapeutic outcome measure. Future research should focus on the relationship between appraisals identified on the ADAPSS and their relationship to the coping strategies that individuals employ and adjustment to SCI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012803:Sick Role; D012928:Social Desirability; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult