Measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale as an insomnia screening tool for adults and the elderly

Albert Westergren; Jan-Erik Broman; Amanda Hellström; Cecilia Fagerström; Ania Willman; Peter Hagell

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.016

Measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale as an insomnia screening tool for adults and the elderly

Albert Westergren, Jan-Erik Broman, Amanda Hellström, Cecilia Fagerström, Ania Willman, Peter Hagell

Patient Reported Outcomes - Clinical Assessment Research and Education (PROCARE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

The psychometric properties of the three-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) were evaluated using the classical test theory. Different cut-offs for identifying insomnia were suggested in two age groups (≥6 and ≥7 among adult and elderly people, respectively). The aim of the present study was to test the measurement properties of the MISS using the Rasch measurement model, with special emphasis on differential item functioning by gender and age.

Methods

Cross-sectional MISS data from adult (age 20-64 years, n=1075) and elderly (age 65+, n=548) populations were analysed using the Rasch measurement model.

Results

Data generally met Rasch model requirements and the scale could separate between two distinct groups of people. Differential item functioning was found by age but not gender. The difference between the adult and elderly samples was lower for the originally recommended ≥6 points cut-off (0.09 logits) than for the ≥7 points cut-off (0.23 logits), but greater at the lower and higher ends of the scale.

Conclusions

This study provides general support for the measurement properties of the MISS. Caution should be exercised in comparing raw MISS scores between age groups, but applying a ≥6 cut-off appears to allow for valid comparisons between adults and the elderly regarding the presence of insomnia. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to determine the clinically optimal cut-score for identification of insomnia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	379-384
Number of pages	5
Journal	Sleep Medicine
Volume	16
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.016
Publication status	Published - 2015

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Clinical Medicine (302)

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10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.016

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title = "Measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale as an insomnia screening tool for adults and the elderly",

abstract = "BackgroundThe psychometric properties of the three-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) were evaluated using the classical test theory. Different cut-offs for identifying insomnia were suggested in two age groups (≥6 and ≥7 among adult and elderly people, respectively). The aim of the present study was to test the measurement properties of the MISS using the Rasch measurement model, with special emphasis on differential item functioning by gender and age.MethodsCross-sectional MISS data from adult (age 20-64 years, n=1075) and elderly (age 65+, n=548) populations were analysed using the Rasch measurement model.ResultsData generally met Rasch model requirements and the scale could separate between two distinct groups of people. Differential item functioning was found by age but not gender. The difference between the adult and elderly samples was lower for the originally recommended ≥6 points cut-off (0.09 logits) than for the ≥7 points cut-off (0.23 logits), but greater at the lower and higher ends of the scale.ConclusionsThis study provides general support for the measurement properties of the MISS. Caution should be exercised in comparing raw MISS scores between age groups, but applying a ≥6 cut-off appears to allow for valid comparisons between adults and the elderly regarding the presence of insomnia. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to determine the clinically optimal cut-score for identification of insomnia.",

author = "Albert Westergren and Jan-Erik Broman and Amanda Hellstr{\"o}m and Cecilia Fagerstr{\"o}m and Ania Willman and Peter Hagell",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.016",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

pages = "379--384",

journal = "Sleep Medicine",

issn = "1389-9457",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale as an insomnia screening tool for adults and the elderly

AU - Westergren, Albert

AU - Broman, Jan-Erik

AU - Hellström, Amanda

AU - Fagerström, Cecilia

AU - Willman, Ania

AU - Hagell, Peter

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - BackgroundThe psychometric properties of the three-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) were evaluated using the classical test theory. Different cut-offs for identifying insomnia were suggested in two age groups (≥6 and ≥7 among adult and elderly people, respectively). The aim of the present study was to test the measurement properties of the MISS using the Rasch measurement model, with special emphasis on differential item functioning by gender and age.MethodsCross-sectional MISS data from adult (age 20-64 years, n=1075) and elderly (age 65+, n=548) populations were analysed using the Rasch measurement model.ResultsData generally met Rasch model requirements and the scale could separate between two distinct groups of people. Differential item functioning was found by age but not gender. The difference between the adult and elderly samples was lower for the originally recommended ≥6 points cut-off (0.09 logits) than for the ≥7 points cut-off (0.23 logits), but greater at the lower and higher ends of the scale.ConclusionsThis study provides general support for the measurement properties of the MISS. Caution should be exercised in comparing raw MISS scores between age groups, but applying a ≥6 cut-off appears to allow for valid comparisons between adults and the elderly regarding the presence of insomnia. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to determine the clinically optimal cut-score for identification of insomnia.

AB - BackgroundThe psychometric properties of the three-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) were evaluated using the classical test theory. Different cut-offs for identifying insomnia were suggested in two age groups (≥6 and ≥7 among adult and elderly people, respectively). The aim of the present study was to test the measurement properties of the MISS using the Rasch measurement model, with special emphasis on differential item functioning by gender and age.MethodsCross-sectional MISS data from adult (age 20-64 years, n=1075) and elderly (age 65+, n=548) populations were analysed using the Rasch measurement model.ResultsData generally met Rasch model requirements and the scale could separate between two distinct groups of people. Differential item functioning was found by age but not gender. The difference between the adult and elderly samples was lower for the originally recommended ≥6 points cut-off (0.09 logits) than for the ≥7 points cut-off (0.23 logits), but greater at the lower and higher ends of the scale.ConclusionsThis study provides general support for the measurement properties of the MISS. Caution should be exercised in comparing raw MISS scores between age groups, but applying a ≥6 cut-off appears to allow for valid comparisons between adults and the elderly regarding the presence of insomnia. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to determine the clinically optimal cut-score for identification of insomnia.

U2 - 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.016

DO - 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.016

M3 - Article

SN - 1389-9457

VL - 16

SP - 379

EP - 384

JO - Sleep Medicine

JF - Sleep Medicine

IS - 3

ER -

Measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale as an insomnia screening tool for adults and the elderly

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