Measuring Ostracism: A Psychometric Examination of the Need-Threat Scale in Adolescence

The Need-Threat Scale measures the threat to four distinct psychological needs after an act of ostracism, including a threat to belonging, control, meaningful existence and self-esteem. Here we examined whether this theoretically derived measure holds empirically true during adolescence. Two independent adolescent samples (nSite 1= 108, nSite2= 151, age range 10–18, 57.9% female) were merged (N = 259) to compare 22 alternative measurement models of the 20-item Need-Threat Scale. The results showed that a 20-item one-factor model fit the data best. However, only a 9-item positively keyed version demonstrated convergent validity. In contrast, the originally hypothesized four-factor model showed neither convergent nor discriminant validity. We discuss the implications of the findings in terms of (1) what is the Need-Threat Scale measuring, (2) possible research to verify the meaning behind the one-factor construct, and (3) whether a 9-item positively keyed scale might be a more parsimonious and valid measure of the need-threat response to ostracism in adolescents as well as an improvement on accuracy and increased efficiency in future research.