Page 51 - JCBP-1-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Wisdom in mentally ill and healthy

mental health problems? (12-WD Wisdom Scale, each statement, decide to what extent it makes sense or not
[10]
Linden et al., 2019)? to you personally in this situation.” Responses are given
(ii) Are there differences in the ranking of wisdom per item on a Likert scale from 0 (strongly disagree) to 10
capacities in people with and without chronic mental (strongly agree). Each of the 12 statements represents one
health problems? of the 12 theoretically based wisdom capacities, and they
can be grouped into five larger domains (Table 1).
2. Methods
A global wisdom score can be calculated as a mean value
2.1. Procedure of all 12 items of the 12-WD Wisdom Scale. The idea is that
This cross-sectional observation study examined a large a person has an understanding of these different capacities
population-representative sample of 2509 people aged and can then be ready to choose selected capacities for
16 – 95 years. The study was conducted by a professional problem solving in concrete life situations. The mean score
social research company (USUMA GmbH, Berlin), of all 12 wisdom capacities can be interpreted as global
which is experienced in conducting population-based wisdom affinity.
[19]
representative surveys . Cronbach’s alpha for the 12-WD Wisdom Scale was
The sampling procedure was a three-stage process: 0.868 in the present investigation. To achieve sufficient
Sampling areas were selected by random sampling. differentiation in the items’ rating, and because positively
USUMA worked in 250 sample areas throughout formulated attitude items tend to be answered positively,
Germany, and ten interviews were carried out per area. we adjusted the rating scale from the original scale of
In the second stage, households were randomly selected 1 – 6 to a scale of 0 – 10 for each item. For interpretation
[10]
within these areas, based on on-site inspection. In the of the global wisdom score, Linden et al. (2019) defined
[10]
third stage, the interviewer identified the households and below-average values for 12-WD mean scores <3.5 (on
selected an person per household for an interview, using a a scale 1 – 6). In our case, wisdom deficits were thus
predetermined random procedure called Kish selection grid assumed for 12-WD mean scores <5 on a scale of 0 – 10.
(“Swedish key,” ), which is used for the random selection This results in the division of the wisdom capacity mean
[20]
of respondents in households with several persons. The values into three categories: “low (rating 0 – 4)”, “moderate
application of Kish selection grid is particularly necessary in (rating 5 – 9)”, or “high (rating 10)” wisdom.
surveys that initially selected a sample treating households
as a whole (household sample). Thereupon, in the next step, 2.3. Chronic mental health problem
each person in the respective household was given the same Chronic mental health problems with accompanying
chance to be an interviewee by means of the Swedish key. impairments are understood according to the definition
The surveys were conducted by means of interviews of common mental disorders (anxiety, depression, and
and self-report questionnaires with the respondents adjustment disorders). Chronic mental health problems
on site. Sociodemographic data and chronic physical are defined by specific symptomatology with suffering and
or mental disorders data were collected during the impairment in daily life activities and coping with stress
[21]
interview. Wisdom capacities were assessed using the or life challenges . About 80% of patients who are under
12-WD Wisdom Self-Rating Scale . Ethics approval was treatment have chronic mental health problems, and mental
[10]
obtained from the Technische Universität Braunschweig disorders are lifetime disorders given their nature [21,22] . In
(D-2021-03). All interviewed persons participated in this the present representative study, chronic mental health
survey with written informed consent. problems were assessed with questions as follows: “Do you
regularly have - now and earlier - complaints such as anxiety,
2.2. Assessment of wisdom capacities using 12 WD mood or interactional problems, which lead to impairments
Wisdom Scale in your daily life routines? Have you been in treatment
In this population-representative study, the self-rating because of these problems, or have others suggested that you
Wisdom Scale (12-WD Wisdom Scale, Linden et al., 2019) should go for treatment (by physicians or psychologists)?”
[10]
was used for assessing 12 wisdom capacities, according to Chronic mental health problems have been assessed this
the integrative wisdom model . Participants were asked way in other studies [21,23] . The above-mentioned questions
[10]
how strongly they apply the 12 wisdom capacities in life for assessing chronic mental health problems have been
problem situations. The instruction of the 12-WD Wisdom proofed content-valid and comprehensible and have also
[21]
Scale is: “Below you will find very different statements and been validated with a standardized interview : In the
principles on how people can react to difficulties and life validation study, chronic mental health problems were
stresses. Please think of the situation just presented. For reported by 307 patients in primary care services according

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.0945