Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Belief About Losing Control Inventory: Testing the Measurement Invariance Across Gender

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that beliefs about losing control may have a pivotal role in the formulation of anxiety-related problems. The Beliefs About Losing Control Inventory (BALCI) is a self-report measure to assess control-failure thoughts. The BALCI consists of 21 items and three subscales. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender groups of the Turkish version of the BALCI. The BALCI, Obsessive Belief Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44), Vancouver Obsessive Compulsive Index (VOCI), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Version (STAI-T) were administered to 531 volunteer undergraduates. Confirmatory factor analysis replicated the original 21-items three-factor structure of the BALCI. Internal consistency of the BALCI total and subscales were adequate. Retest reliability for the total scores of the BALCI was .76, for the subscales varied from .72 to. 78. The BALCI scores significantly correlated with OBQ-44, ASI-3, and STAI-T. The BALCI and subscales also explained a significant amount of variance in OCD symptoms above and beyond obsessive beliefs. This study also provided evidence of the measurement invariance of the BALCI across gender groups. It is concluded that the Turkish version of the BALCI is a valid and reliable instrument to assess negative beliefs about losing control.