Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Modified Adult Attachment Scale for the Use of Medically Ill Patients.
OBJECTIVE
The Modified Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-M36) scale was developed for medically ill, older individuals in 2008 (Toronto, Canada, department of psychosocial oncology and palliative care, Princess Margaret Hospital). The scale has displayed satisfactory reliability and validity. This study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Modified Experiences in Close Relationships (K-ECR-M36) questionnaire in female patients with breast cancer.


METHODS
A total of 199 post-operative breast cancer patients completed the K-ECR-M36 as well as other psychological measures including the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The reliability and validity of the K-ECR-M36 were evaluated. Explorative factor analysis was conducted to identify the factor structure of the K-ECR-M36.


RESULTS
The K-ECR-M36 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.87) and reasonable test-retest reliability (r=0.752, p<0.001). The total as well as avoidance and anxiety subscales demonstrated construct validity with the RAAS, the HADS, and the WHOQOL-BREF. Factor analysis revealed four-factor structure which was originally proposed by Brennan, Clark, and Shaver (1998).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support that the K-ECR-M36 has satisfactory reliability, validity and factor structure among patients with breast cancer.
Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Byunggu
B
Jang
Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Hyo-Deog
HD
Rim
Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Jungmin
J
Woo
Adult attachment; Breast cancer; Modified Experiences in Close Relationships; Psychological symptoms