Variable
Van de Ven and colleagues (2008) developed a domain-specific scale to measure optimism regarding HIV
treatment programs among gay men.
Description
The HIV-TOS consists of 12 statements to which respondents indicate their degree of skepticism or optimism.
These statements concern (1) the effectiveness of HIV treatments and (2) the hope of change in the virus. Itemresponse-format is on a four-point scale ranging from 1 strongly disagree (highly skeptical) to 4 strongly agree(highly optimistic). One score is obtained for each of these three factors separately and total scores can rangefrom 12 (highly skeptical) to 48 (highly optimistic) (Van de Ven et al., 2000).
Sample
The HIV-TOS was validated with a sample of men ( N5532), most of whom were HIV positive and self-identified
as gay. The sample indicated a slightly skeptical orientation (overall M519.8, SD54.7) (Van de Ven et al., 2000).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
A Cronbach alpha coefficient reported for the HIV-TOS was .79. Item total correlations ranged from .28 to .57
(Van de Ven et al., 2000).
Test/C0Retest
No test /C0retest reliability evidence is currently available for the HIV-TOS.
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
No convergent/concurrent validity evidence is currently available for the HIV-TOS.
Divergent/Discriminant
No discriminant validity evidence is currently available for the HIV-TOS.
Construct/Factor Analytic
Factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution (labeled: optimism, effectiveness of HIV treatments, and hope of
change in the virus) (Van de Ven et al., 2010).
Criterion/Predictive
No criterion/predictive evidence are currently available for the HIV-TOS.
Location
Van de Ven, P., Crawford, J., Kippax, S., Knox, S., & Prestage, G. (2010). A scale of optimism-scepticism in the
context of HIV treatments. AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of HIV/AIDS, 12 , 171/C0176.
Results and Comments
The HIV-TOS is unique in that it examines treatment optimism in an important clinical population. Although
inappropriate for use in assessing more dispositional forms of optimism, the HIV Treatment Optimism Scaleadds to the increasing body of research aimed at examining state-dependent types of optimism.
HIV TREATMENT OPTIMISM SCALE
Instructions: The statements on this page are about
viral load testing and new treatments for HIV. For eachone, please tick if you strongly disagree, disagree, agree
or strongly agree. [A corresponding four-point scale
accompanied each statement.] For each question, pleasetick one box only ...if you are unsure, please give your
best guess.
____1. A person with undetectable viral load cannot
pass on the virus.70 3. MEASURES OF HOPE AND OPTIMISM
II. EMOTIONAL DISPOSITIONS