Citation

Albright GL, Davidson J, Goldman R, Shockley KM, Timmons-Mitchell J. Crisis 2016; 37(4): 271-280.

Affiliation

4 Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000382

PMID

27245815

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Community-based gatekeeper trainings are effective tools in increasing gatekeeper skills but few validated measures assess impact. AIMS: This study aimed at determining the validity of an 11-item Gatekeeper Behavior Scale (GBS) to assess gatekeeper skills that predict behavior.

METHOD: To validate the scale, 8,931 users were administered GBS surveys at pretraining, posttraining, and follow-up periods. The training was one of five from the suite of online At-Risk mental health learning simulations for university faculty/staff or students or high/middle school educators.

RESULTS: A confirmatory factor analysis revealed the three-factor model based on the subscales of preparedness, likelihood, and self-efficacy fit the data best. Factor loadings showed all items correlated highly with theoretical constructs (r ≥.84, p <.001). The GBS had high internal consistency (α = 0.93). Criterion-related validity for likelihood to discuss concerns at posttraining was significantly related to approaching students believed to be in psychological distress (r =.219, p <.001). Likelihood to refer significantly correlated with the number of students referred (r =.235, p <.001). Convergent validity was established via a correlation between self-efficacy in motivating someone to seek help and general self-efficacy (r =.519, p <.001).

CONCLUSION: The GBS appears to be a valid tool in measuring the impact of online gatekeeper training simulations and holds promise for assessing other delivery methods.

Language: en