Psychometric validation of the adapted inventory of virtues and strengths for cancer survivors: Implications for psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivors often experience a shift in values upon receiving a cancer diagnosis (1). Virtues are the behavioral manifestations of one's values and strengths. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to psychometrically validate the Adapted Inventory of Virtues and Strengths (AIVS), a measure of virtues in the context of psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability, for cancer survivors. Method: A total of 355 participants with cancer were recruited via Prolific, an online crowdsourcing platform, across two data collection phases. Participants completed an online survey that included the AIVS along with scales measuring related constructs. Factor analyses and correlational analyses were performed to assess the psychometric properties of the AIVS. Results: Findings indicated that the AIVS showed a distinct five-factor structure within the cancer population, differing from the structure found in its original cross-disability psychometric validation study. The AIVS demonstrated good psychometric properties and showed correlations with scales measuring constructs relevant to virtues (i.e., life satisfaction, self-efficacy). Conclusions: Through factor analysis, with a reduction in total items and a change in the factor structure, the AIVS appears to be psychometrically sound for cancer survivors.