Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Life Orientation Test-Revised Among Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Insights into Optimism.

Abstract

Optimism, defined as the tendency to expect positive outcomes and view challenges as manageable, plays a vital role in the lives of individuals with chronic illnesses, including multiple sclerosis. Given its potential benefits, measuring optimism through validated tools like the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) is essential for both research and clinical practice. This study aims to validate the Spanish version of the LOT-R within a sample of MS patients, assessing its psychometric properties and exploring its potential utility in clinical settings. This study included 179 patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the factor structure of the LOT-R. Model fits were evaluated by the χ2/df value, comparative fit index (CFI), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The LOT-R showed good psychometric characteristics in our sample of PwMS. The CFA's for both models (the two correlated factors model and the second-order factor model) yielded a good model fit. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were acceptable. Optimism was significantly correlated with quality-of-life scores, resilience, and fear of relapse scale. In general terms, the LOT-10 has satisfactory psychometric properties and is suitable for measuring dispositional optimism in Spanish-speaking patients with multiple sclerosis.