title: Examining adversarial growth in illness: the factor structure of the Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ-38).
abstract: The Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ-38) is purported to measure 10 aspects of adversarial growth in illness. To date however, no empirical evidence exists to support this claim. Hence the aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the SLQ-38 in a sample of 560 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer, cardiac, and renal disease. The results demonstrate that 24 SLQ-38 items can be factored into five subscales: improved personal relationships, greater appreciation for life, positive influence on others, personal inner strength and changes in life philosophy, all of which are in accordance with the literature on adversarial growth. Individuals with MS experienced lower adversarial growth compared to other illness groups. Gender, age and time since diagnosis were unrelated to adversarial growth in illness. The utility of the revised SLQ-38 is discussed along with suggestions for future research on the convergent and divergent validity of this revised instrument.
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychology, University of Ulster , Northland Road, Co. Londonderry , Northern Ireland , BT48 7JL , UK.
authors.forename: Orla M C
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Bride
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dunwoody
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowe-Strong
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Silver Lining Questionnaire; adversarial growth; chronic illness; positive consequences of illness