Validation of the Chinese version General Causality Orientation Scale-Clinical Population and causality orientations assessing in major depressions

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version General Causality Orientation Scale-Clinical Population (GCOS-CP) and assessed the causality orientations in patients with major depression disorders (MDDs).

Method: The psychometric properties of the Chinese GCOS-CP were tested in an adults group (study 1). And then, the Chinese GCOS-CP was given to individuals with and without MDD (study 2).

Results: The Chinese GCOS-CP provided good reliability and validity. MDD showed lower autonomy but higher impersonal orientations relative to healthy controls.

Discussion: The GCOS-CP is suitable for the assessment of motivation in patients with mental disorders in Chinese setting.

Keywords: amotivation; depression disorder; intrinsic motivation; self-determination theory.