Page 61 - JCBP-1-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Psychometric analysis of the mass shootings worry inventory

independent examination of the psychometric properties iv. Negative religious coping scale (NRCS)
of the MSWI to date. This two-item scale was adapted from the religious
[12]
Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the coping instrument of Pargament et al. . The NRCS was
reliability, convergent validity, and known-group validity intended to measure negative religious coping with thoughts
of the MSWI using a larger, independent sample. For this about mass shootings. A sample item for this scale is, “After
study, we expected the MSWI to yield Cronbach’s alpha thinking about mass shootings, I wondered whether God
and Guttman’s split-half coefficients ≥0.60 to demonstrate had abandoned some people.” This instrument displayed
satisfactory levels of reliability for a two-item long scale . solid reliability with this study’s sample (α = 0.83).
[7]
Because research and clinical perspectives suggest that v. Substance coping scale (SCS)
dysfunctional anxiety is strongly associated with traumatic
stress, maladaptive coping strategies, and impairment [4,8,9] , This two-item scale was adapted from Carver’s brief
[13]
we expected MSWI scores to be positively correlated with coping instrument . The SCS was intended to measure
measures of post-traumatic stress, drug and alcohol coping, alcohol or drug use coping with mass shootings concerns.
negative religious coping, and functional impairment to A sample item for this scale is, “I used alcohol or other
demonstrate evidence of convergent validity. Moreover, drugs to help me get through the anxiety caused by mass
we expected individuals experiencing dysfunctional levels shootings.” This instrument displayed excellent reliability
of worry over mass shootings to score significantly higher with this study’s sample (α = 0.91).
on the aforementioned measures than individuals not 2.2. Method
experiencing as much worry over mass shootings to show
evidence of known-group validity. The present study is a secondary analysis of online survey
data from 759 MTurk workers recruited through Amazon
2. Materials and methods and paid ($0.50) to complete the survey . MTurk is a
[14]
crowdsourcing marketplace that has been commonly
2.1. Materials used to recruit large samples at relatively low costs for
The tools employed in the study are as follows: psychological research. Data were collected between
i. MSWI September 2019 and October 2019. Participants were
This two-item scale was developed by the authors of mostly white (47.7%) and educated with bachelor’s degrees
or higher (72.5%). The sample consists of a relatively even
this study. The MSWI was designed as a brief screening balance of gender (52.3% men) and adult age groups
tool to measure dysfunctional worry over mass shootings. (47.7% were within the 25 to 34-year-old category).
The two items of the MSWI are, “I felt nervous when I
thought about mass shootings,” and “I was worried that I or 2.3. Statistical analysis
someone I care about would be a victim of a mass shooting
event.” Based on a previously established cut-score (MSWI Reliability analyses were calculated using Cronbach’s
total scores ≥5.00), 42.8% of the respondents experienced alpha and Guttman’s split-half procedures, while bivariate
dysfunctional worry over mass shootings. correlations were calculated using Pearson’s product-
moment formula. Independent samples t-tests were used
ii. Work and social adjustment scale (WSAS) to compare the participants (42.8%) who scored in the
This five-item scale was developed by Mundt et al. . dysfunctional levels of worry over mass shootings range
[10]
The WSAS was designed to measure functional impairment (MSWI total scores ≥5.00) with the participants (57.2%)
due to mental health conditions. A sample item for this who did not score in the dysfunctional levels of worry over
scale is, “I had an impaired ability to work (job-related, mass shootings range (MSWI total scores <5.00). All of the
school work, and volunteer activities) because of mass statistical analyses were run using SPSS version 26.0.
shootings.” This instrument displayed excellent reliability
with this study’s sample (α = 0.95). 3. Results and discussion
iii. Abbreviated post-traumatic stress disorder We reported the psychometric properties of a promising
(PTSD) checklist (APC) screening instrument that researchers and clinicians can
This 6-item scale was developed by Lang and Stein . use to measure dysfunctional worry over mass shootings.
[11]
The APC was designed to measure symptoms of PTSD. The MSWI demonstrates satisfactory reliability with
A sample item for this scale is, “Repeated, disturbing Cronbach’s alpha and Guttman’s split-half coefficients of
[7]
memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful event.” This 0.78 . The MSWI was more reliable in this sample than
instrument displayed strong reliability with this study’s in the initial development sample (reliability of 0.67). The
sample (α = 0.89). results also revealed adequate evidence of convergent

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.0546