Confirmatory factor analysis of a measure of intrapersonal empowerment

Objective: To assess the factorial validity of the Personal Opinions Questionnaire (POQ), a self-report measure of intrapersonal empowerment, and to provide norms for vocational rehabilitation (VR) clients. Study Design: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate a 4-factor model derived from a previous exploratory factor analysis of the POQ items. Participants: Four hundred seventy-three VR clients (53% female) from 3 district offices of a state rehabilitation agency. Instrument: The POQ (B. Bolton & J. B. Brookings, 1998), which yields 3 subscale scores (Personal Competence, Group Orientation, Self-Determination, and Positive Sense of Identity as a Person With a Disability) and a total empowerment score. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the validity of the 4 subscales as measures of separable components of intrapersonal empowerment and for the total score as an overall indicator of empowered status. Conclusions: Those using the POQ should compute the 3 subscale scores and the total score.