Research Article
Dimensionality and reliability of the Civilian Mississippi Scale for PTSD in a postearthquake community
Moira Inkelas, Laurie A. Loux, Linda B. Bourque,
Mel Widawski,
Loc H. Nguyen,
Corresponding Author
Linda B. Bourque
Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief and Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief and Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Box 951772, Los Angeles, California 90095-1772. Fax: (310) 794-1805Search for more papers by this authorMel Widawski
Office of Academic Computing, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorLoc H. Nguyen
Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief and Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorMoira Inkelas, Laurie A. Loux, Linda B. Bourque,
Mel Widawski,
Loc H. Nguyen,
Corresponding Author
Linda B. Bourque
Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief and Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief and Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Box 951772, Los Angeles, California 90095-1772. Fax: (310) 794-1805Search for more papers by this authorMel Widawski
Office of Academic Computing, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorLoc H. Nguyen
Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief and Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This study examines psychometric properties of the Civilian Mississippi Scale for posttraumatic stress disorder when administered in a community survey of 656 persons following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Internal consistency was lower (Cronbach's α = .73) than for previous analyses of civilian and combat versions of the Mississippi Scale. The analysis produced one strong factor composed of 25 items with regular wording and a second, weaker factor composed of 10 items with reversed wording. Internal consistency was higher when the 10 reversed items were removed (Cronbach's α = .86); the two factors were negatively correlated. Traumatic experiences and psychological distress measures explained more variance in the 25-item factor than in the 35-item scale. Further studies should focus on content analysis and performance of the reversed items.
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