TY - JOUR
T1 - The Strengths Use Scale: Psychometric Properties, Longitudinal Invariance and Criterion Validity
AU - van Zyl, Llewellyn Ellardus
AU - Arijs, Diane
AU - Cole, Matthew L.
AU - Glinska, Aldona
AU - Roll, Lara C.
AU - Rothmann Sr., Sebastiaan
AU - Shankland, Rebecca
AU - Stavros, Jacqueline M.
AU - Verger, Nicolas B.
PY - 2021/6/15
Y1 - 2021/6/15
N2 - Strengths use is an essential personal resource to consider when designing higher-educational programs and interventions. Strengths use is associated with positive outcomes for both the student (e.g. study engagement) and the university (e.g. academic throughput/performance). The Strength Use Scale has become a popular psychometric instrument to measure strength use in educational settings, yet its use has been subjected to limited psychometric scrutiny outside of the US. Further, its longitudinal stability has not yet been established. Given the wide use of this instrument, the goals of this study were to investigate (a) longitudinal factorial validity and the internal consistency of the scale, (b) its equivalence over time, and (c) criterion validity through its relationship with study engagement over time. Data was gathered at two time points, three months apart, from a sample of students in the Netherlands (n=360). Longitudinal confirmatory factor analyses showed support for a two-factor model (Affinity for Strengths and Strengths Use Behaviours ) for overall strength use. The SUS demonstrated high levels of internal consistency at both the lower- and upper bound limits at both time points. Further, strict longitudinal measurement invariance was established, which confirmed the instrument’s temporal stability. Finally, criterion validity was established through relating strength use to study engagement at different time stamps. These findings support the use of the SUS in practice to track the effectiveness of strength use within the higher education sector.
AB - Strengths use is an essential personal resource to consider when designing higher-educational programs and interventions. Strengths use is associated with positive outcomes for both the student (e.g. study engagement) and the university (e.g. academic throughput/performance). The Strength Use Scale has become a popular psychometric instrument to measure strength use in educational settings, yet its use has been subjected to limited psychometric scrutiny outside of the US. Further, its longitudinal stability has not yet been established. Given the wide use of this instrument, the goals of this study were to investigate (a) longitudinal factorial validity and the internal consistency of the scale, (b) its equivalence over time, and (c) criterion validity through its relationship with study engagement over time. Data was gathered at two time points, three months apart, from a sample of students in the Netherlands (n=360). Longitudinal confirmatory factor analyses showed support for a two-factor model (Affinity for Strengths and Strengths Use Behaviours ) for overall strength use. The SUS demonstrated high levels of internal consistency at both the lower- and upper bound limits at both time points. Further, strict longitudinal measurement invariance was established, which confirmed the instrument’s temporal stability. Finally, criterion validity was established through relating strength use to study engagement at different time stamps. These findings support the use of the SUS in practice to track the effectiveness of strength use within the higher education sector.
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.676153
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.676153
M3 - Article
SN - 1664-1078
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in psychology
JF - Frontiers in psychology
M1 - 676153
ER -