Italian Adaptation of the Brief Modified Experiences in Close Relationships Scale in a Sample of Cancer Patients: Factor Analysis and Clinical Implications
October 2018
in “
Research in psychotherapy
”
TLDR The Italian version of a relationship scale was adapted for cancer patients, showing some differences from the original and suggesting its use could improve therapy and treatment adherence.
The study adapted the Brief Modified Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-M16) scale for Italian cancer patients (ECR-M16-I) and assessed its factor structure with a sample of 86 outpatients with a mean age of 56.3 years. Factor analysis showed a four-factor first-order structure and a second-order structure with two dimensions, which were partially similar to the original scale but also showed significant differences. The factors identified were worries about loss, abandonment, caring and closeness (WLACC), frustration about unavailability and need for reassurance (FUNR), difficulty in relying upon others (DRO), and discomfort with closeness (DC), explaining 50.4% of the total variance. The study found that the dimensions of avoidance and anxiety were not entirely independent, with a correlation of .41. The adaptation is important for evaluating attachment in medical settings, which could improve therapeutic relationships and treatment compliance. However, the study had limitations such as a small sample size and lack of external measures for construct validity, suggesting the need for further research.
