Self-Presentation in Injury Rehabilitation Questionnaire (SPIRQ)

Abstract

The Self-Presentation in Injury Rehabilitation Questionnaire (SPIRQ) is a specialized psychometric instrument designed to assess how individuals undergoing physical recovery believe others in the clinical setting perceive them. Developed by Driediger and colleagues, the scale captures concerns related to physical competence, emotional control, and overall health status during the vulnerable period of rehabilitation. It is rooted in social psychological theories, particularly those concerning impression management and the fear of negative evaluation in physically demanding environments, such as a physiotherapy clinic. The SPIRQ provides researchers and clinicians with a quantitative tool to measure the specific dimensions of self-presentation anxiety experienced by patients in rehab.

Keywords

Injury rehabilitation, self-presentation, social physique anxiety, impression management, psychological assessment, athletic injury, physiotherapy, emotional control.

Authors

Molly V. Driediger, C. D. McKay, C. R. Hall, P. S. Echlin.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the SPIRQ is to provide a quantitative measure of an athlete or patient’s concerns regarding their social image and physical competence while participating in injury rehabilitation. This setting often involves public displays of physical limitations and vulnerability, making patients highly susceptible to self-presentational stress.

The questionnaire aims to identify specific dimensions of concern, such as perceived weakness or lack of coordination, which may negatively impact motivation, adherence to treatment protocols, and overall recovery outcomes. By quantifying these concerns, the SPIRQ facilitates targeted psychological interventions within the rehabilitation process.

Construct

The SPIRQ specifically measures the construct of perceived Self-Presentation within the context of physical recovery. This differs from general self-presentation scales by focusing on dimensions critical to physical performance and health status in a clinical environment. The construct encapsulates the belief about how one is viewed by others (e.g., therapists, other patients) regarding their physical ability, emotional state, and commitment to recovery.

The 32 items reflect both positive presentation desires (e.g., appearing strong, coordinated, focused) and negative presentation fears (e.g., appearing weak, anxious, uncoordinated, or unable to handle pressure).

Validity

The original development of the SPIRQ involved rigorous steps to establish its psychometric properties. Content validity was established through expert review and qualitative data gathered from patients undergoing rehabilitation, ensuring the items accurately reflected real-world concerns. Construct validity was examined by correlating SPIRQ scores with established measures of related psychological constructs, such as Social Physique Anxiety (SPA) and general self-esteem, demonstrating that it measures a distinct, yet related, construct specific to the rehabilitation environment.

Reliability

Reliability analyses for the SPIRQ, detailed in the foundational academic work, typically included assessments of internal consistency. High Cronbach’s alpha coefficients would confirm that the items within the identified subscales are homogenous and reliably measure the intended underlying dimensions of self-presentation concern. Furthermore, test-retest reliability would have been assessed to ensure the stability of the measure over short periods, assuming the patient’s stage of rehabilitation remains relatively consistent.

Factor Analysis

Exploratory and confirmatory Factor Analysis (FA) was used during the scale’s development to determine the underlying structure of the 32 items. Given the nature of the items (mixing positive traits like ‘Strong’ and negative traits like ‘Weak’ or ‘Anxious’), the SPIRQ is structured to capture several distinct factors. These factors often separate into dimensions representing concerns about physical competence (e.g., coordination, ability to perform exercises) and emotional control (e.g., composure, anxiety, frustration), reflecting the multifaceted nature of self-presentation concerns during physical recovery.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire; Psychometric Scale

Format: 32 items responded to on a 5-point Likert Scale, ranging from 1 (not at all true) to 5 (completely true).

Language Available: English (Original development).

Population Group: Patients undergoing physical rehabilitation, typically athletes or active individuals.

Age Group: Adults and potentially young adults/adolescents.

Population Details: Individuals receiving treatment in clinical or physiotherapy settings following an athletic or musculoskeletal injury.

Test Methodology: Respondents are instructed to rate the extent to which they believe other people in the clinic (staff and other patients) would perceive them according to the listed characteristics.

Keywords

Impression management, physical competence, emotional regulation, anxiety, physiotherapy, quantitative assessment, sports psychology, social context.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source content. Correspondence should typically be directed to the primary author, Molly V. Driediger, via her affiliated institution at the time of publication.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was formally introduced in 2012 as part of a Master’s thesis by Molly Driediger at the University of Western Ontario. Further validation and publication occurred in 2016. The instrument is generally available for non-commercial academic research use, often requiring permission from the primary authors. No standard commercial fee information is readily available for this academic instrument.

Reference’s

The primary document detailing the scale’s development, “Self-Presentation and Social Physique Anxiety in Injury Rehabilitation Settings” (2012), is available as an Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository Paper 525. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1649&context=etd

• Driediger, M. V. (2012). Self-Presentation and Social Physique Anxiety in Injury Rehabilitation Settings (Master’s Thesis). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. Paper 525. University of Western Ontario.

• Driediger, M. V., McKay, C. D., Hall, C. R., & Echlin, P. S. (2016). A qualitative examination of women’s self-presentation and social physique anxiety during injury rehabilitation. Physiotherapy, 102(4), 371-376.

Items of the Self-Presentation in Injury Rehabilitation Questionnaire (SPIRQ)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

I believe the other people in the clinic would perceive me as ….

1. Weak
2. Anxious
3. Self-conscious
4. Relaxed
5. Uncoordinated
6. Unable to perform exercises
7. Healthy
8. Fit
9. Unfocused
10. Energized
11. Difficult to work with
12. Tense
13. Strong
14. Composed
15. Unable to handle pressures
16. Frustrated
17. Unconcerned
18. Coordinated
19. Unfit
20. In control of my emotions
21. Focused
22. Tired
23. Confident
24. Dumb
25. Unhealthy
26. Easy to work with
27. Knowledgeable
28. Able to handle pressures
29. Unable to control emotions
30. Needy
31. Perform exercises well
32. Independent

Response Scale: 1 (not at all true) to 5 (completely true)