title: Invincibility fable: tool development to measure invincibility.
abstract: Invincibility is a phase of social-cognitive development of the adolescent and has been associated with risk behavior involvement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine psychometric properties of the Adolescent Invincibility Tool (AIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reliability was assessed and validity was examined using principal components analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistency was demonstrated with a Cronbach's alpha of .88; factor analysis led to the confirmation of subscales. Criterion validity was validated with similar and opposing measures of invincibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial testing suggests that the AIT is a valid and reliable tool for screening invincibility. Further testing is recommended to determine relevance for other populations of youth.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA. Electronic address: mary.wickman@vanguard.edu.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wickman
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koniak-Griffin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescents; Instrument development; Invincibility