The Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised: an examination of a reduced-item version

J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Jun;23(5):703-10. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.02.009. Epub 2009 Feb 21.

Abstract

The Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised (DPSS-R [Pers. Indiv. Differ. 41 (2006) 1241-1252]) is a new assessment tool thought to assess two distinguishable factors contributing to disgust reactions, Disgust Propensity and Disgust Sensitivity. Extant data though indicate the presence of four unreliable DPSS-R items. The present study examined the psychometric properties of a reduced-item version of the DPSS-R, in which these four problematic items were removed, using data from two large independent samples of nonclinical college students. Results from Study 1 revealed that the reduced-item DPSS-R factor structure provided more favorable goodness-of-fit indices than the two previous full-length DPSS-R factor structures. In Study 2, the reduced-item DPSS-R scales showed good reliability, stronger relationships with symptoms of disgust-relevant than fear-relevant phobias, and adequate incremental concurrent validity in predicting symptoms of disgust-relevant phobias. The present study suggests that the reduced-item DPSS-R is both reliable and valid, and likely addresses the limitations of the full-length version.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Affect*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Young Adult