Measurement Invariance of the Abridged Sense of Coherence Scale in Adolescents

Abstract

In the present study, the factorial structure and the degree of measurement invariance of the short form of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOCS-13) were examined across two groups of adolescents. The sample comprised 1107 Swiss students (535 aged 14 or younger and 572 aged 15 or older). Considering a sequence of confirmatory factor models and using robust parameter estimation, results indicate that a two-factor model of sense of coherence adequately described the data. The first factor encompassed Comprehensibility and Manageability items, whereas the second factor reflected Meaningfulness. Strict measurement invariance could be established, i.e., factor loadings, latent intercepts of the manifest indicators, and residual variances were found to be equal in both age groups. In the end, students from the older age group, on average, had higher factor scores in Comprehensibility-Manageability. These findings provide support for a two-dimensional structure and complete unbiasedness of the SOCS-13 in adolescent samples differing in age.