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Minimization Scale
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About Minimization Scale
Scale Name
Minimization Scale
Author Details
Robert Plutchik and Herman M. Van Praag
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Minimization Scale, developed by Robert Plutchik and Herman M. Van Praag in 1989, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure minimization as a coping strategy among older adolescents (approximately ages 16-21). Published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry as part of research on suicidality, aggressivity, and impulsivity, the scale aligns with Plutchik’s emotion theory, which posits that coping strategies like minimization (downplaying the significance of problems or emotions) modulate emotional and behavioral responses to stress. The scale was developed to assess how adolescents use minimization to manage distress, particularly in contexts of high-risk behaviors like suicide or aggression, and is often used alongside measures of impulsivity and emotional regulation.
The scale comprises 10 items rated on a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “never” to 4 = “often”), assessing the frequency of minimizing problems or emotions (e.g., “I tell myself that my problems are not that serious” or “I try to think that things are not as bad as they seem”). Scores are summed, with lower scores indicating less frequent use of minimization. Validated in older adolescent samples, the scale is used to explore coping mechanisms in clinical and community settings, particularly in relation to mental health and violence prevention.
Psychologists, clinicians, and researchers use the Minimization Scale to assess coping styles, evaluate intervention outcomes, and study the role of minimization in mitigating or exacerbating psychological distress. Its focus on a specific coping strategy is a strength, but its moderate internal consistency, English-only availability, and specific age focus may limit reliability and broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Minimization Scale from primary sources, such as Plutchik and Van Praag (1989) in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry or Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses how they handle problems to support mental health, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to rate each of the 10 items based on how often they use the described minimization strategies, using the Likert scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, depending on reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, clinical, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for adolescents with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Minimization Scale has moderate psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is acceptable but modest, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.67, indicating moderate item cohesion, possibly due to variability in adolescents’ interpretation of minimization or the scale’s brevity. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar coping scales (e.g., r ≈ 0.60-0.70 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as emotion-focused coping (r ≈ 0.30-0.50) and lower emotional distress in some contexts, though minimization can also correlate with denial, a maladaptive strategy (r ≈ 0.40). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its association with reduced suicidal ideation in some adolescent samples, though it may exacerbate distress if overused, as noted in Plutchik and Van Praag (1989). Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s focus on minimization supports construct validity within Plutchik’s emotion framework. The moderate reliability suggests cautious use, ideally paired with other coping measures like the COPE Inventory.
Available Versions
10-Items
Reference
Plutchik, R., & Van Praag, H. (1989). The measurement of suicidality, aggressivity and impulsivity. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 13, S23-34.
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Minimization Scale measure?
It measures the use of minimization as a coping strategy for problems and emotions.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, clinicians, and researchers studying coping in older adolescents.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to older adolescents?
Yes, it targets ages approximately 16-21.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but moderate reliability (α = 0.67) requires cautious use with other measures.
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