Psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the work and social adjustment scale

• Main Author: Ingólfur Tryggvi Elíasson 1993-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn í Reykjavík
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Klínisk sálfræði; Meistaraprófsritgerðir; Félagslegar aðstæður; Mælingar; Social conditions; Psychometrics; Clinical psychology; Reykjavík
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/39331

Relevant and objective outcome measures of the social and functional impairment that psychological disorders evoke, serve an integral part in evaluating the quality and progression of psychological treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a brief self-report measure, that assesses the social and functional impairment that is associated with a diagnosed disorder or an identified problem, in five areas of the respondent’s life. Those are: the ability to work or study, home management, social leisure activities, private leisure activities and ability to form and maintain close relationships with others. So far, no assessments on the psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the scale has been conducted, despite its widespread use. Participants in the study came from two samples, the first sample consisted of 92 individuals that participated in a transdiagnostic cognitive behaviour group therapy program for depression and anxiety that is offered within the Primary Healthcare centres in the Capital Area. The second sample consisted of 204 students from Reykjavík University. The results suggest that the WSAS is a reliable measure (α = .88; r = .86). Factor analysis revealed that the measure is best described as a single factor that can explain 67.55% of the total variance. The result are mixed when it comes to the validity of the scale. We could not show that cut-off scores for the English version of the WSAS apply when interpreting the results of the Icelandic version of the scale, but our results suggest that the cut-off point on the WSAS that suggests clinical impairment lies between 12 and 14 points, with both endpoints included.