Validating the Beliefs and Attitudes About Helping Questionnaire: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Tools related to assessment of motivational interviewing (MI) practitioners are widely available such as the MITI, to assess skills, and MIKAT to assess knowledge. Informal self-assessments of the spirit of motivational interviewing also abound. Assessing the compatibility of one’s beliefs and attitudes about being a helper and helping others is largely missing. A survey was developed based on the spirit of MI and was piloted within a larger study of empathy among college students. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in a three-factor structure but did not demonstrate partnership, acceptance, compassion and empowerment as separate components, but rather as one factor. The second factor reflected items that were antithetical to MI, and the third factor recognized personal or self-awareness of the helper. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are noted.