Psychometric Properties of the Original Version of the Assessment of Time Management Skills

Time management is one of several components included in executive functions, and is defined as mental functions of ordering events in chronological order, and distributing amount of time to events and activities. Individuals with reduced executive functioning often experience problems with managing time and organizing daily life and are often in need of occupational therapy. Time management is an essential aspect of all occupational performance a key intervention component to enhance performance and satisfaction with daily occupations (Holmefur, Lidstrom-Holmqvist et al. 2019). In order to plan and evaluate rehabilitation and interventions in this area, valid and reliable instruments adjusted for the specific target group and specific culture are essential. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a time management skills instrument; the Assessment of Time Management Skills (ATMS). The ATMS is a 30-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess how the users actively benefit from cognitive strategies and adaptations such as using calendar or lists to plan to manage their daily life tasks, and the relative levels of self-awareness concerning their time management skills. Each item, having a four-graded response scale, is a statement that describes how different practical situations related to time management in everyday life are handled, or one’s opinion concerning personal time management skills. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional computer-administered survey. A total of 241 adults (112 male and 129 females) from the general population were recruited in 2009 in the US. The inclusion criteria were age between 18 and 65, understanding of English, and no current involvement in specialized training or education in time management. To evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the ATMS, Rasch analysis was used. The Rasch model is a latent trait model and considered to be the standard against which the data is tested. The model is built on three assumptions: Invariance between items and persons; unidimensionality; and proper item categorization. In the analysis ordinal raw scores transforms into interval measures and then the misfit between data and the model are examined. The first analysis of the person and item reliability of the entire 30 items indicated that ATMS items were consistent and replicable. However, the principal component analysis of the residuals indicated that the scale probably does not measure only one single trait (Eigenvalue of the first construct = 4.5) and there was four misfitting items. A new analysis based on the Swedish findings by our research group, dividing ATMS to subscales time management, organization and planning, and regulation of emotion, indicated that the same subscales are valid for the original English version with an overall very strong construct validity and reliability. According to the Rasch model, the ATMS showed good measurement properties.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study add knowledge about the psychometric properties of the ATMS and its usefulness in English-speaking countries. It shows that the ATMS can provide valid measures of self-assessed time management skills, organisation and planning skills and regulation of emotion in a general and presumably also a population with cognitive impairment. ATMS can be used by occupational therapists in implementing cognitive strategies to plan and manage daily life tasks. ATMS can give valuable insights into what needs to be addressed in an intervention and can be useful to guide intervention and to evaluate OT intervention program.

References

Janeslatt, G. K., Holmqvist, K. L., White, S., & Holmefur, M. (2018). Assessment of time management skills: psychometric properties of the Swedish version. Scand J Occup Ther, 25(3), 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2017.1375009

Holmefur, M., Lidstrom-Holmqvist, K., Roshanay, A. H., Arvidsson, P., White, S., & Janeslatt, G. (2019). Pilot Study of Let's Get Organized: A Group Intervention for Improving Time Management. Am J Occup Ther, 73(5), 7305205020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.032631