A Meta-Analysis of the Internal Consistency of the Moral Injury Event Scale, 2021-2022

Steen, Scott (2023). A Meta-Analysis of the Internal Consistency of the Moral Injury Event Scale, 2021-2022. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-856549

The Moral Injury Event Scale (MIES) is a tool for measuring exposure to potentially morally injurious event(s) and distress. While it reported satisfactory psychometric properties in its early development studies, it has since been used in multiple contexts and populations without assessment of its changing reliability or validity. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the MIES psychometric properties across settings and to determine the factors influencing its variability. A systematic search of electronic databases (PsychINFO; PTSD Pubs; MEDLINE; Scopus; Web of Science) was undertaken to identify studies reporting MIES reliability and validity data. A total of 42 records were found up-to-April-2022. Most papers reported Cronbach's Alpha so analyses of other reliability and validity metrics (e.g., test-retest, inter-rater reliability) were not possible. The review found the MIES to be a generally internally consistent tool based on alpha estimates at both Full-scale (α=.88) and Sub-scales (⍺=.82-.92). The review uncovered high heterogeneity and inconsistencies in its administration and modification although figures generally remained above acceptable levels (⍺≥.70). Based on the review, the MIES represents an internally reliably tool for measuring potentially morally injurious events and distress at both Full and Sub-Scales according to pooled Cronbach's Alpha estimates.