Need for Controllability & Predictability questionnaire (NCP-q): psychometric properties & preliminary findings in a clinical sample, 2024, Ramakers

[Dolphin]

https://hpr.termedia.pl/The-Need-fo...stionnaire-NCP-q-psychometric,195733,0,2.html

Online first

ORIGINAL PAPER
The Need for Controllability and Predictability questionnaire (NCP-q): psychometric properties and preliminary findings in a clinical sample

Indra Ramakers 1, Riet Fonteyne 2, Marta Walentynowicz 2, Lukas Van Oudenhove 3,4 ,Maaike Van Den Houte 1,3, Katleen Bogaerts 1,5

1 REVAL – Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
2 Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
3 Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies (LABGAS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
4 Leuven Brain Institute, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
5 Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium


Submission date: 2024-06-04
Final revision date: 2024-10-25


Acceptance date: 2024-11-08
Online publication date: 2025-01-24

Corresponding author
Katleen Bogaerts
REVAL – Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium




Article (PDF)References (89)

KEYWORDS
need for control
need for predictability
functional somatic syndromes
burnout
panic disorder

TOPICS
psychological aspects of illness
research methodology, measurement, and statistics in health psychology

ABSTRACT
Background:
Given the importance of the need for controllability and predictability in the broad field of health psychology, a high-quality measurement tool for these constructs is required.

Participants and procedure:
The objective of our study was to validate the Need for Controllability and Predictability questionnaire (NCP-q), which is a 15-item self-report measure that assesses an individual’s need for controllability and predictability. In study 1, an explora-tory (n = 464) and confirmatory (n = 304) factor analysis was performed in two student convenience samples. In study 2, NCP-q data of patients with panic disorder (n = 34), stress related syndromes (overstrain, n = 33; burnout, n = 39), func-tional somatic syndromes (fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome, n = 34), and healthy controls (n = 30) were com-pared.

Results:
The results from study 1 suggest that the NCP-q should be used as a one-dimensional instrument. The NCP-q has excellent internal consistency and an acceptable four-week test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was demonstrated. Study 2 re-vealed significantly higher NCP-q scores for all patient groups compared to healthy controls, but no differences between patient groups.

Conclusions:
A higher self-reported need for controllability and predictability can be seen as a transdiagnostic underlying mechanism of different patient groups characterized by experiencing physical symptoms in daily life. The NCP-q can be used as a reliable, concise, and clinically relevant research tool and may contribute to identifying relevant underlying mechanisms in different patient samples.

 

[Hutan]

A higher self-reported need for controllability and predictability can be seen as a transdiagnostic underlying mechanism of different patient groups characterized by experiencing physical symptoms in daily life. The NCP-q can be used as a reliable, concise, and clinically relevant research tool and may contribute to identifying relevant underlying mechanisms in different patient samples.

As usual, promoters of the psychosomatic paradigm don't seem to be able to maintain a position of equipoise on cause and effect when the evidence could suggest either, let alone put themselves in the shoes of someone who is sick and consider how that might affect their survey answers.

Perhaps someone's pathological requirement for controllability and predictability really has resulted in them developing a health condition that makes life less adventurous and more predictable.

More likely though, being sick, sometimes feeling very ill indeed and needing to be able to lie down quickly, and especially experiencing PEM has resulted in the person learning that a controlled environment is likely to allow them to maximise their functioning.


It's a shame the researchers didn't include a disease that is clearly physical among the 4 patient groups. It might have shown that pretty much everyone who is sick prefers a controlled and predictable environment - it's sensible and it is what we can see has evolved in mammals as part of sickness behaviour. Because unpredictability and unusual challenges are stressors that make being sick much more demanding.

 

[Hutan]

Humans with a high need for control are described by some authors as assertive, decisive, active, with high levels of aspiration and trying to influence others by seeking leader- ship roles (Burger, 1985; Burger & Cooper, 1979). A certain need for control is innate and proven to be essential for survival (Leotti et al., 2010).

So people who a higher than average need for control might be the sort of people who, when faced with a life-limiting diseases might seek out studies to take part in, to try to understand what is wrong with them?

In particular, it is also plausible that the need for control plays a role in the development and perpetu- ation of stress-related conditions (e.g., overstrain, burn-out) or functional somatic syndromes (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome [CFS]). Individuals with a high need for control are more likely to be emotionally exhausted – one of the three dimensions of burnout (Bakker et al., 2008) – and experience high cardiovascular reactivity during stress (Lawler et al., 1990). Moreover, a discrepancy between a high need for control and low perceived control elevates distress (Law et al., 1994), while a higher need for control is associated with both CFS and FM (Keen et al., 2022).

See that reference to the Keen et al 2022 suggesting that people with CFS and FM have a higher need for control. Perhaps we are going to be seeing this idea pushed more.


Interesting that, when referring to other similar scales they note this:

For instance, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS; Freeston et al., 1994) measures “the excessive tendency of an individual to consider it unacceptable that a nega- tive event may occur, however small the probability of its occurrence” (Dugas et al., 2001, p. 552). This instrument mainly assesses negative beliefs about internalized insecurities (e.g., ‘uncertainty prevents me from having a strong opinion’).

I'm not really sure what they are saying there, if having a strong opinion in the face of uncertainty is supposed to be a good or bad thing. But, I do think that it is an irony that the authors are so concerned about sick people's need for controllability, while probably the core reason for the psychosomatic paradigm to exist is to fill the gaps of uncertainty, to make the unknown supposedly knowable and controllable by the clinician.


Here's another scale they mention:

In addition, the Desirability of Control (DC; Burger & Cooper, 1979) is known as a questionnaire to assess one’s general motivation to control the events in one’s life. Per- sons scoring high on DC generally seek to influ- ence others and manipulate events to ensure desired outcomes. Many items of the DC describe specific situations associated with achievement and compe- tition (e.g., ‘I enjoy being able to influence the ac- tions of others’).

And yet another, which would be very problematic if given to people who have undergone CBT

Last, the subscale ‘beliefs about the need to control thoughts’ of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30; Wells & Cartwright- Hatton, 2004) assesses maladaptive meta-cognitions regarding a person’s need for control (e.g., ‘I will be punished for not controlling certain thoughts’).

 

[Utsikt]

It's a shame the researchers didn't include a disease that is clearly physical among the 4 patient groups. It might have shown that pretty much everyone who is sick prefers a controlled and predictable environment - it's sensible and it is what we can see has evolved in mammals as part of sickness behaviour. Because unpredictability and unusual challenges are stressors that make being sick much more demanding.

I wonder what the researchers’ need for controllability and predictability of their research results would show up as.

 

[Hutan]

Questions
1. I do not like to lose control over my life
2. I like to know what awaits me
3. I like to plan everything in advance, so that I don't get any unexpected surprises

4. I find it necessary to control my surroundings
5. I feel uncomfortable if things don’t go as planned
6. I want to have a hold on what is happening around me

7. I like to have control over the things happening around me
8. I become restless if I lose control
9. I want to have a grip on the situation I find myself in

10. I feel anxious if I can’t predict what is going to happen
11. I have to know what I can expect, otherwise I feel uncomfortable
12. Uncertainty about the future gives me a bad feeling

13. I like to have control over my life
14. I like to know what is going to happen
15. I have a need for control



5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not typical) to 5 (very typical). Higher scores on all items reflect higher need for controllability/pre- dictability.

The average total score was 43.18 (SD = 11.39) with scores ranging from 15 to 75, the lowest and highest possible scores. The overall mean score on all items was 2.89.

Study 1:

First year bachelor students were invited to partici- pate in collective testing sessions at the university for course credits during which a set of question- naires was administered.

 

[Eleanor]

This is the kind of thing that gets weaponised against autistic people who benefit from familiarity and predictability, to imply that they're just being "controlling" and "manipulative".

 

[Utsikt]

This is the kind of thing that gets weaponised against autistic people who benefit from familiarity and predictability, to imply that they're just being "controlling" and "manipulative".

I didn’t even think of that, but you’re spot on.

My sister would probably respond 4 or 5 to every single question, and she’s the least manipulative person I know. She doesn’t have autism, she just likes predictability.

 

[Peter T]

Also when seeking to avoid PEM, knowing as much as possible what will happen and careful planning is a rational precautionary measure.

 

[Trish]

I doubt I'll finish reading the paper after I came across this in the introductory section:

Whereas controllability and predictability refer to abilities, the need for controllability and predictability reflects a subjective desire or wanting. The need for controllability is a personality trait (Burger, 1992) and has previously been described as: “The level of motivation to control the events in one’s life” (Burger & Cooper, 1979, p. 381). Humans with a high need for control are described by some authors as assertive, decisive, active, with high levels of aspiration and trying to influence others by seeking leadership roles (Burger, 1985; Burger & Cooper, 1979). A certain need for control is innate and proven to be essential for survival (Leotti et al., 2010).

To talk of the need for controllability and predictability as a 'personality trait' is ridiculous for pwME. The need to find a way to control our activity by pacing is driven by symptoms and is a physical need to try to prevent harm. It's not a 'personality trait'.

 

[Trish]

Questions
1. I do not like to lose control over my life
2. I like to know what awaits me
3. I like to plan everything in advance, so that I don't get any unexpected surprises

4. I find it necessary to control my surroundings
5. I feel uncomfortable if things don’t go as planned
6. I want to have a hold on what is happening around me

7. I like to have control over the things happening around me
8. I become restless if I lose control
9. I want to have a grip on the situation I find myself in

10. I feel anxious if I can’t predict what is going to happen
11. I have to know what I can expect, otherwise I feel uncomfortable
12. Uncertainty about the future gives me a bad feeling

13. I like to have control over my life
14. I like to know what is going to happen
15. I have a need for control

What a ridiculous questionnaire. What do you do if you like a mix of predictability and surprises? And what things are they meaning - predictablity of what I have for dinner, predictablity of whether a relationship will last, predictablity of war, predicability of whether my friend wlll like my new dress? It's monstrous to judge people like this.

 

[Sean]

If you ever want an example of how arbitrary and pathological psychologisation can be, this is a good one.

 

[Hutan]

What a ridiculous questionnaire. What do you do if you like a mix of predictability and surprises? And what things are they meaning - predictablity of what I have for dinner, predictablity of whether a relationship will last, predictablity of war, predicability of whether my friend wlll like my new dress? It's monstrous to judge people like this.

It's so context driven, isn't it? Imagine a person with chronic diarrhoea. They would want to know they would be close to a toilet most of the day. But, that says nothing about the level of spontenaity they prefer in other aspects of their life. If you primed the person with discussions about how they planned for trips and so on or even just reminded them of their health condition, they would have that constraint uppermost in their mind as they answered the questions. It surely would affect how they answered.

 

[rvallee]

It's very similar to political polling. And just as scientific, i.e. not at all. Everything is in the how questions are asked and the agenda of the pollers.

Like asking "do you think the country is headed in the right direction?" can get opposite answers for the same reasons, or identical answers for opposite reasons. Without disambiguation, everyone is answering a slightly different version of the question that they interpret themselves.

For sure it's just as worthless and biased.