Page 76 - JCBP-3-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Neuroticism scale: Reliability and validity

rate reached 57.9%. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) scored using different methods, including an algorithm
was then performed to finalize the item selection. based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria, or a cutoff based on
2.2. Participants summed item scores. It consists of 9 items scored from
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Before participant recruitment, the study received ethical 0 to 3, reflecting the severity of depressive symptoms
approval from the Medical Ethics Committee for Clinical over the past 2 weeks. Higher scores indicate more severe
Research at Zhongda Hospital, affiliated with Southeast depressive symptoms. 20
University. The study involved a total of 554 participants,
comprising college students from Southeast University 2.3.3. GAD-7
and patients diagnosed with various psychiatric conditions The GAD-7 scale is used to assess anxiety symptoms. It
at Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University in Nanjing. comprises seven items scored from 0 to 3, with higher
The recruitment aimed to create a homogeneous sample scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms. The
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for the study. Informed consent was obtained from all GAD-7 has been validated for use in primary care settings. 22
participants, ensuring they were aware of the study’s
purpose and their rights. Questionnaires were distributed 2.4. Statistical analysis
in both paper form and electronic formats. All participants Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS
were of Han Chinese ethnicity.
Statistics version 16.0 for descriptive statistics, correlation
The study population was divided into two distinct analysis, and EFA. Mplus7 was used for CFA. 24
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samples to assess differences between college students Data from both normal participants and outpatients
without psychiatric conditions and individuals with were analyzed to verify the item characteristics, internal
varying psychiatric diagnoses. Detailed descriptions of the
samples are as follows: consistency, and construct validity of the neuroticism
scale. Internal consistency for the neuroticism scale and its
i. Sample 1 (n = 168, age: 20.18 ± 1.78 years): A total subscales was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.
of 200 questionnaires were distributed among college Criterion validity was investigated using Spearman’s
students without psychiatric diagnoses, resulting in correlation between the neuroticism scale and other
168 valid responses (98 men and 70 women). measures, including GAD-7, PHQ-9, and the neuroticism
ii. Sample 2 (n = 386, age: 39.23 ± 11.49 years): In subscale of the NEO-FFI (NEO-FFI-N). Construct validity
this group, 430 questionnaires were distributed. of the neuroticism scale was assessed using CFA.
Participants completed a self-designed neurotic
questionnaire with 14 questions, along with the NEO- 3. Results
FFI, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9),
and the generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire 3.1. Overall item characteristics
(GAD-7). A total of 386 valid responses were collected, Descriptive analysis and independent sample t-tests
consisting of 173 men and 213 women. Among these, were primarily used to analyze the validity of each item.
163 were outpatients with psychiatric diagnoses, Participants were divided into high-score and low-score
while 223 were normal subjects without psychiatric groups for further analysis, and a homogeneity test was
conditions. carried out. The homogeneity test results indicated that
2.3. Assessments Items 16, 20, 21, 23, and 29 were not highly correlated with
the total score, leading to the decision to remove these
2.3.1. Neurotic subscale of the NEO-FFI items (Table 1).
The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) was originally 3.2. EFA
developed by Costa and McCrae in 1985. To enhance
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its practical application, the NEO-FFI was developed, EFA was performed on Sample 1 (n = 168). The results
consisting of 60 items. The neuroticism subscale of the showed a KMO value of 0.88 and a significance level of
NEO-FFI includes 12 items rated on a 5-point scale. P < 0.001. Principal component analysis with variance
Xi et al. verified the reliability of this subscale, with a maximal orthogonal rotation was used to determine
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Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.84. factor loadings. Items with factor loadings below 0.45 were
removed. Finally, four factors comprising 14 items were
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2.3.2. PHQ-9 retained, which were named: low self-esteem, excessive
The PHQ-9 is a widely used depression screening emotional sensitivity, unstable mood, and excessive worry.
instrument in psychiatric settings. The PHQ-9 can be The cumulative interpretation rate reached 57.9% (Table 2).

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 70 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.3791