Validação de um instrumento sobre diversas perspectivas da morte

 

JOSÉ BARROS-OLIVEIRA (*)

FÉLIX NETO (*)

 

RESUMO

Spilka et al. (1977) construíram e estudaram um questionário contendo oito escalas breves que avaliam outras tantas perspectivas face à morte - Death perspectives scales. Estas escalas foram traduzidas para português e estudadas as suas características psicométricas numa amostra diversificada de 387 sujeitos, incluindo quatro grupos: freiras, seminaristas, estudantes universitários e professores. Estas escalas manifestaram possuir, na tradução e adaptação portuguesa, uma boa estrutura psicométrica e uma boa consistência interna, além de suficiente validade concorrente e discriminante, podendo assim constituir um instrumento válido para avaliar diversas perspectivas em relação à morte em diversos grupos. Neste estudo, os dois grupos de religiosos, em confronto com outros dois grupos não religiosos, avantajaram-se quanto à sua capacidade de interpretar e de lidar com a morte, manifestando particularmente uma maior crença na vida para além da morte.

Palavras-chave: Morte, perspectivas sobre a morte, religião, personalidade.

 

ABSTRACT

Spilka et al. (1077) constructed and studied a questionnaire containing eight short scales which assess a range of possible perspectives on death - so-called Death perspective scales. These scales were translated into Portuguese and their psychometric characteristics were studied with a sample of 387 subjects, comprising four groups: nuns, seminarians, university students and teachers. These scales showed, in the Portuguese translation and adaptation, good psychometric structure and internal consistency in addition to sufficient validity and discriminative power. They constitute, therefore, a valid instrument to assess diverse perspectives in relation to death in different groups. In this study, two religious groups in comparison with two non-religious groups displayed a higher capacity to interpret and cope with death, showing in particular a stronger belief in life after death.

Key words: Death, perspectives on death, religion, personality.

 

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