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Assessment of distress associated with tinnitus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

E. D. van Veen ,
J. B. Jacobs  and
J. M. Bensing
E. D. van Veen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J. B. Jacobs*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
J. M. Bensing
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
*
Address for correspondence: Mrs J. B. Jacobs, ENT Department, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

This paper focuses upon the quality of the Dutch translation of the STSS (Subjective Tinnitus Severity Scale), a scale which assesses the severity of tinnitus and the related distress. Research has been done on the psychometric qualities of this scale, its relationship with loudness-matching procedures and several psychological variables. Data presented on 104 tinnitus patients demonstrated the reliability of the STSS with a coefficient alpha of 0.71. Factor analysis revealed four factors: emotional distress, intrusiveness, annoyance and cognitive distress. With regard to the validity, significant correlations of a moderate degree were found with several unitary subjective scales measuring the same construct (rs = 0.50, p<0.001 and rs = 0.43, p<0.01). Correlational research demonstrated that the STSS is independent of the loudness of tinnitus as measured by matching procedures (rs = 0.00).

In contrast, significant correlations of a moderate magnitude were found with anxiety (rs = 0.33, p<0.001) and depression (rs = 0.31, p<0.01 and rs = 0.35, p<0.001).

Keywords

TinnitusPsychometrics
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 3 , March 1998 , pp. 258 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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