PROMIS Pediatric Peer Relationships Scale: Development of a Peer Relationships Item Bank as Part of Social Health Measurement

• Published in: Health psychology Vol. 32; no. 10; pp. 1093 - 1103
• Main Authors: DeWalt, Darren A., Thissen, David, Stucky, Brian D., Langer, Michelle M., Morgan DeWitt, Esi, Irwin, Debra E., Lai, Jin-Shei, Yeatts, Karin B., Gross, Heather E., Taylor, Olivia, Varni, James W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-10-2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Chronic Disease; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Health; Human; Humans; Item Response Theory; Male; Measurement; Medical sciences; Models, Theoretical; Outcome Assessment, Health Care - methods; Paediatrics; Pediatrics; Peer Relations; Peer relationships; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Self Report; Social Adjustment; Social Health; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Techniques and methods; Test Construction; Test Items; Young people; peer relationships; social health; item response theory; PROMIS; Human; Factor analysis; Differential item functioning; Peer relation; Evaluation scale; Item response theory; Psychometrics; Test validation; School age; Social interaction; Adolescent; Item bank; Test construction; Child
• ISSN: 0278-6133; 1930-7810
• DOI: 10.1037/a0032670

Objective: This study's objective was to develop a measure of social health using item response theory as part of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Methods: After candidate items were generated from review of prior literature, focus groups, expert input, and cognitive interviews, items were administered to youth aged 8-17 as part of the PROMIS pediatric large scale testing. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess dimensionality and to identify instances of local dependence. Items that met the unidimensionality criteria were subsequently calibrated using Samejima's Graded Response Model. Differential item functioning was examined by gender and age. Results: The sample included 3,048 youth who completed the questionnaire (51.8% female, 60% white, and 22.7% with chronic illness). The initial conceptualization of social function and sociability did not yield unidimensional item banks. Rather, factor analysis revealed dimensions contrasting peer relationships and adult relationships. The analysis also identified dimensions formed by responses to positively versus negatively worded items. The resulting 15-item bank measures quality of peer relationships and has strong psychometric characteristics as a full bank or an 8-item short form. Conclusions: The PROMIS pediatric peer relationships scale demonstrates good psychometric characteristics and addresses an important aspect of child health.