| The purpose of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the newly developed BT Challenge Instrument (BTCI), which operationalized the construct of perceived challenge from Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theory of stress and coping. Evidence of construct validity was obtained using three approaches: analysis of factor structure, comparison with known instruments, and comparison of known groups. Reliability was assessed by a measure of internal consistency.;Subjects were 236 registered nurses, the majority of whom were married and worked full-time in a staff position. In addition to completing the BTCI, subjects responded to the Moneyham Threat Index (MTI), Fish Semantic Differential Scale (FSDS), Threat Visual Analog Scale (TVAS), and Challenge Visual Analog Scale (CVAS).;Prior to hypothesis testing, the data were examined for homogeneity. Minor deviations from homogeneity were noted. A search for possible intervening variables was conducted, but there was little evidence that scores were impacted by other variables.;Hypothesis testing demonstrated that (a) the underlying factor structure of the BTCI was five independent scales that accounted for 51.5% of the variance and that were labelled Positive Emotion, Demand, Sense of Confidence, Outcome Control, and Mental Activity; (b) only the Mental Activity scale was not reliable at a greater than.73 level; (c) scores on the Positive Emotion, Demand, Sense of Confidence, and Outcome Control scales correlated as expected with scores on the TVAS, both scales of the FSDS, and two of the three scales of the MTI; and (d) the Demand, Mental Activity, and Positive Emotion scales differentiated between subjects who varied in degree of perceived challenge.;The findings of the study provide evidence of the reliability and validity of four of the BTCI scales. Recommendations for further refinement of the scales is offered, and replication of the study in similar and diverse samples is recommended. As evidence of the reliability and validity of the scales accumulates, scales may be useful to the generation of nursing knowledge concerning health behaviors and health outcomes in stressful situations. |
