Page 77 - JCBP-3-1

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

3.3. Content validity 3.5. Construct validity

Content validity was evaluated by experts who determined CFA was conducted using Mplus 7 to validate the
the conformity of the neuroticism scale items with the factor structure identified in the EFA. The analysis was
intended constructs. The evaluation concluded that the performed on Sample 2, which included 386 participants.
questionnaire demonstrated good content validity. The fit indices indicated a good model fit: Chi-square value
(χ ) =177.960 and degrees of freedom (df) =71, resulting
2
3.4. Criterion validity
in a chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio (χ /df) of
2
Three criteria were selected for assessing criterion 2.506, which is below the recommended threshold of 3.0.
validity: the NEO-FFI-N, the GAD-7, and the PHQ-9. The root-mean-square error of approximation was 0.039,
Correlation analysis results showed that the total score indicating a good fit as it is below the 0.05 threshold.
of the neuroticism scale, along with scores for low self- The comparative fit index was 0.959, and the Tucker-
esteem, excessive emotional sensitivity, unstable mood, Lewis index was 0.947, both exceeding the acceptable
and excessive worry, were positively correlated (r ≥ 0.50) fit threshold of 0.90. The standardized root mean square
with the total scores of the NEO-FFI-N neuroticism residual was 0.032, indicating an excellent fit as it is below
subscale, PHQ-9, and GAD-7. These results indicate that the 0.08 threshold (Table 4).
the neuroticism scale has good criterion validity (Table 3).
3.6. Reliability test
Table 1. Initial test of neuroticism scale
The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the overall neuroticism
Item Determination Item Determination Item Determination scale was 0.926, indicating high internal consistency. The
V1 7.637*** V11 7.582*** V21 4.421*** Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each factor ranged from
V2 7.262*** V12 5.070*** V22 6.990*** 0.70 to 0.83, with an average of 0.762. The mean inter-
V3 6.943*** V13 6.131*** V23 4.592*** item correlation coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.926,
V4 5.377*** V14 0.842 V24 7.120*** demonstrating good reliability across the scale (Table 5).
V5 5.474*** V15 1.512 V25 5.829*** 4. Discussion
V6 6.308*** V16 2.158** V26 7.673*** Our data demonstrated good item characteristics, internal
V7 6.731*** V17 4.430*** V27 8.118*** reliability, and constructed validity of the neuroticism
V8 6.232*** V18 6.764*** V28 8.060*** subscale in the sample population (n = 554). The neuroticism
V9 7.773*** V19 9.331*** V29 4.724*** scale comprised four dimensions: low self-esteem, excessive
V10 9.128*** V20 4.598*** V30 10.07*** emotional sensitivity, unstable mood, and excessive worry.
Note: *** indicates P<0.001; ** indicates P<0.01. A detailed discussion of each dimension is as follows:

Table 2. Exploratory factor analysis results

Item Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Communalities
I am sensitive to the expression in others’ eyes 0.763 0.633
I feel everyone is hostile to me 0.706 0.606
I’m a little nervous 0.672 0.622
It’s hard for me to regulate my mood 0.455 0.396
I get angry easily 0.709 0.590
I will suddenly cry 0.706 0.512
My mood is up and down 0.650 0.564
Stress can break me 0.538 0.479
I feel completely worthless 0.745 0.624
Setbacks tend to make me give up 0.660 0.562
I want to hide from anyone 0.757 0.702
I’m afraid of making mistakes 0.769 0.628
I’m afraid of failure 0.761 0.662
I’m always worried about my health 0.647 0.527

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 71 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.3791