Validating the Chinese version authenticity scale: psychometrics in college and community samples

Abstract

Wood’s (Wood, Linley, Maltby, Baliousis, & Joseph, 2008) authenticity scale is widely used and has good psychometric properties. Translating it into different languages and evaluating it in diverse samples are critical for expanding its assessing capacity for different populations and facilitating cross-culture comparison. This study aimed to validate this authenticity scale in Chinese and examined its psychometric properties in college and community samples in Chinese context. In Study 1 (N = 281), we translated Wood’s authenticity scale into Chinese and explored its construct validity, reliability, criterion-related validity in a college sample. In Study 2 (N = 715), we evaluated the scale’s construct replicability, construct and criterion-related validity in a larger community sample (with diverse demographics) and its subsamples (by gender, age, and employment situations) using Hancock and Mueller’s (2001) H coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), multigroup CFA, and correlation with criterion scales. Results in EFA, subscale intercorrelations, and CFA supported same three-factor structure in the Chinese context. Group invariance tests indicated the same structure held across genders, ages, and employment situations. Good criterion validity and acceptable construct replicability demonstrated that the Chinese version authenticity scale is a valid and reliable instrument. With slightly low internal consistency and construct validity in subsamples with certain demographic characteristics, discussion focused on its applicability in populations with different demographics in Chinese cultural context.