THE REASONS FOR LIVING INVENTORY FOR ADOLESCENTS (RFL-A) - DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES

The role of adaptive beliefs and attitudes against suicide has not bee n given adequate attention in the clinical or assessment literature. T his article reports on the development and initial psychometric proper ties of a 32-item self-report inventory, the Reasons for Living Invent ory for Adolescents (RFL-A). In Phase 1, we used exploratory and confi rmatory factor analyses to identify five correlated factors. Future Op timism, Suicide-Related Concerns, Family Alliance. Peer Acceptance and Support, and Self-Acceptance. In Phase 2, we cross-validated the 5-fa ctor oblique model in a different group of adolescents recruited from two high schools. In addition, we examined evidence for convergent, di scriminant, and construct validities. The coefficient alpha indices fo r the RFL-A total and scales were satisfactory In Phase 3, we evaluate d additional evidence of reliability and validity using samples of hig h school and psychiatric inpatient adolescents. The results suggest th at the RFL-A is a short, reliable. and valid measure that is potential ly useful in the assessment of adolescent suicidal behavior. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.