G erman Language Adaptation of the H eadache M anagement S elf‐Efficacy S cale ( HMSE ‐ G ) and Development of a New Short Form ( HMSE ‐ G ‐ SF )
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop and validate a German version of French and colleagues' Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale and to construct an abbreviated form for use in behavioral headache research. Furthermore, the contribution of headache-specific self-efficacy to pain-related disability in German chronic headache sufferers was examined. BACKGROUND: Headache-specific self-efficacy refers to an individuals' confidence that they can engage in behaviors to either prevent headache episodes or to manage headache-related pain and disability. Self-efficacy beliefs have been shown repeatedly to be positively associated with psychological well-being, effective coping, and enhanced treatment outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 304 individuals diagnosed with either migraine, chronic tension-type headache, or a combination of 2 or more headache disorders completed the German Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale and questionnaires assessing headache activity, pain-related coping, general self-efficacy, depression, and anxiety. Responsiveness of the scale was analyzed in a longitudinal subsample of 32 inpatients undergoing headache treatment. Finally, a short form was constructed and evaluated regarding psychometric properties. RESULTS: The German Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale showed good reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.87) as did the 6-item short form (Cronbach's α = 0.72). In the longitudinal sample, both versions showed a good ability to change over time (SRM= 0.52-1.16). Chronic headache patients with higher levels of self-efficacy reported lower levels of disability (r = -0.26 to -0.31). Multiple regression analyses revealed headache intensity and headache-specific self-efficacy as strongest predictors of headache-related disability (βself-efficacy = -0.21, βintensity = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: Both the 25-item version and the 6-item version appear to be valid, reliable measures of self-efficacy beliefs. These scales will allow clinicians to identify headache sufferers with low levels of headache-specific self-efficacy with the goal of enhancing this expectancy for improvement. The new short form can help accomplish this goal without adding significantly to the burden of the self-report assessment batteries used in clinical settings.
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The German short form of the Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale (HMSE-G-SF) has satisfying internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.72).
“It includes six items and has a satisfying internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.72) (34).”
From Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the Prophylaxis of Migraine in Adults: A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial (2022) · cites this paper as [34]
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- Authors
- Graef, J. E., Rief, W., French, D. J., Nilges, P., & Nestoriuc, Y.
- Affiliations
- Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
- Université de Moncton (CA)
- German Red Cross (DE)
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Nestoriuc, Yvonne
- Venue
- Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-04-22
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 958-972
- ISSN
- 0017-8748 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-4610
- OpenAlex
- W1983460494
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Migraine and Headache Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Complementary and Manual Therapy › Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
- Keywords
- German translation, short-form scale, chronic headache, migraine, tension-type headache, pain-related disability, headache severity, scale validation, responsiveness, psychometric properties
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Germany, Headache, Humans, Language, Male, Middle Aged, Migraine Disorders, Pain Measurement, Psychometrics, Self Care, Reproducibility of Results, Tension-Type Headache, Self Efficacy, Behavioral Research, Self Report
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