Table 8 Comparison of the items deleted from the 41-item and the 32-item Major Life Changing Decisions Profile (MLCDP) after exploratory factor analysis

Common items deleted

B9

I decided to become self-employed

C2

I decided not to have more children

D7

I decided to move from one country to another

E4

I decided to be more physically active

D6

I wanted to move abroad but decided not to

E3

I decided to change to different sporting activities

E5

I decided to give up driving

D4

I decided not to buy my own home

D14

I wanted to wear make up but decided not to

Items only deleted after factor analysis of the 32-item MLCDP along with the above 9 common items

C3

I decided not to have any children

D15

I decided to wear a wig/toupee

D10

I decided to move to another part of the country

D1

I decided to change my eating habits

D5

I decided to move my home

D11

I decided to wear different types/colour of clothes/shoes

E1

I decided not to go swimming

A2

I decided to change my study subject

B7

I decided not to take promotion

Items only deleted after factor analysis of the 41-item MLCDP along with the above 9 common items

B10

I decided to remain unemployed

D2

I decided to change my smoking/drinking alcohol habits