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A multi-study paper on the development and validation of the Value Clarity Questionnaire in adults and adolescents

McLoughlin, Shane
; 
Stapleton, Alison
; 
Pendrous, Rosina
; 
Oldham, Peter
; 
Hochard, Kevin D.
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Affiliation
University of Birmingham; University College Dublin; University of Chester
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Publication Date
2025-01-13
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Psychology
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Abstract
Engaging in behavior that promotes flourishing is a key outcome sought in several evidence-informed psychotherapies (e.g., “valued action” within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). However, we cannot deliberately engage in valued action without first having value clarity. Having value clarity means understanding and being aware of the qualities of character we want to embody (i.e., the type of person we aspire to be). To date, there is no distinct process or outcome measure evaluating value clarity. In this multi-study paper, including two cross-sectional studies (Studies 1 and 2) and one, three-wave longitudinal study (Study 3), we describe the development and validation of a novel, unidimensional measure of value clarity (the Value Clarity Questionnaire; VCQ). Study 1 (convenience sample of adults, total N = 506) describes the development of and the empirical refinement of the VCQ through a series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Study 2 confirmed the VCQ’s factor structure and internal consistency (a United Kingdom-representative sample, N = 491). Study 3 (a school-aged sample (N1 = 468 boys) revealed that the VCQ showed good internal consistency over time, test-retest stability, and a series of longitudinal measurement invariance tests supported configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance. Across the studies, value clarity was correlated with and predicted multiple aspects of flourishing including engaged living, depression, behavioral activation, assertiveness, productiveness, and energy levels, over and above known predictors. Overall, the results show that the VCQ is a reliable and valid measure that could be an especially useful proximal index of the effectiveness of targeted value clarification interventions.
Citation
McLoughlin, S., Stapleton, A., Pendrous, R., Oldham, P., & Hochard, K. D. (2025). A multi-study paper on the development and validation of the Value Clarity Questionnaire in adults and adolescents. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, vol(issue), pages. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2025.2451317
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Journal
Counselling Psychology Quarterly
Research Unit
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/629204
DOI
10.1080/09515070.2025.2451317
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PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
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Description
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Series/Report no.
ISSN
0951-5070
EISSN
1469-3674
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Unfunded
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https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09515070.2025.2451317