Arabic-speaking Countries Research Articles

Psychometric properties of principals’ attitudes toward inclusive education (PATIE) scale: Arabic version

BackgroundInclusive education is critical for the successful integration of students with disabilities into general education schools, and principals’ attitudes play a crucial role in this process. Despite the recognized significance of attitudes, there remains a gap in understanding these attitudes among principals in Arabic-speaking regions concerning inclusive education practices. This study aims to bridge this gap by validating and assessing the reliability of the Arabic version of the Principals’ Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education (PATIE) scale.MethodsTo measure these attitudes in the Arab region, the current study validated and assessed the reliability of the Arabic version of the Principals’ Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education (PATIE) scale using a sample of 391 principals from schools that have in place inclusion programs for students with disabilities. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to validate the scale’s structural, discriminant, and convergent validity, while Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR) were utilized to evaluate the scale’s reliability.ResultsThe results demonstrated the strong validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the PATIE, with all five factors displaying good reliability.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the scale can effectively measure attitudes toward inclusive education in Arabic-speaking countries. This study’s implications for research and practice are significant, as they underscore the importance of positive attitudes among principals in promoting inclusive education and provide a validated tool for measuring these attitudes.

Nursing Research in Arab Countries: Current Status, Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Twenty-two Arab countries comprise the League of Arab States. While united in Arab identity, diversities among these countries exist at many levels. Conducting and publishing research in the Arabic speaking countries is an essential pillar for improving the status of the nursing profession. The purpose of this study is to assess the current status, trends, challenges, and opportunities of nursing research in Arab countries. An integrative review was conducted using (1) Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Database Journals Directory (IMEMR), (2) the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals Database (IASJD), (3) Ulrichsweb (UW), (4) The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research/Middle Eastern Journals (GFMER), (5) the Nursing Journal Directory (NJD), (6) the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and (7) Google Scholar. Journals and articles that met inclusion criteria were accessed, retrieved, reviewed, and subjected to content analysis by three authors, two of which were fluent in English, French, and Arabic languages. A third author fluent in all three languages confirmed the findings. Nursing research in Arabic-speaking countries has evolved over the past decades but is still lacking compared to global nursing research. Moreover, it was found to be largely situated within academic institutions and linked to tenure and promotion requirements. Nursing journals in Arabic-speaking countries do not adequately represent that overall region and are limited in access.

Arabic Text Detection on Traffic Panels in Natural Scenes

Identifying and acknowledging Traffic Panels (TP) and the text they display constitute significant use cases for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). In recent years, particularly in the context of the Arabic language, extracting textual information from TP and signs has emerged as a challenging problem in the field of computer vision. Furthermore, the significant rise in road traffic accidents within Arabic-speaking countries has resulted in substantial financial losses and loss of human lives. This is largely attributed to the limited number of diverse datasets for traffic signs and the absence of a reliable system for TP detection. Implementing warning and guidance systems for drivers on the road not only addresses this issue but also paves the way for the integration of intelligent components into future vehicles, offering decision support for transitioning to semi-automatic or fully automatic driving based on the driver’s health condition. These tasks present us with two main challenges. First, it involves developing a new Arabic dataset called the Syphax Traffic Panels dataset (STP) tailored to the diverse conditions of natural scenes gathered from “Sfax,” a city in Tunisia. This dataset aims to provide high-quality images of Arabic TP. Secondly, we suggest a deep learning method for detecting Arabic text on TP by evaluating the performance of the state-of-the-art algorithms in this context. In our study, we enhance the architecture of the most successful result achieved. The experiments conducted reveal promising results, affirming the significant contribution of our dataset to this research area, and even more encouraging results stemming from the enhancements made to the proposed method. The dataset we possess is accessible to the general public on IEEE DataPort https://dx.doi.org/10.21227/5zd9-pe55

Oral health in lower middle-income African societies - surprising outcomes and strategic consequences

Objective: To assess the oral health status of the population in selected African countries and compare the outcomes with emerging and highly developed countries worldwide using quantifiable results. Method: By means of a composite indicator - the Dental Health Index (DHI) - the dental status of a country´s entire population is measured to arrive at a ranking of oral health performance. This performance is then compared with countries belonging to other development stages. The present study is descriptive and, whenever possible, uses existing epidemiological data from national representative surveys. Results: With the exception of Rwanda, the Sub-Saharan African countries performed better than the three North African countries of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, although the Arabic-speaking countries have higher Human Development Indices by comparison. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, the best rankings were achieved by Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. However, the other Sub-Saharan countries studied also exhibited similarly low DHIs. Rwanda, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco ranked last. One striking finding is that the Sub-Saharan countries studied show more favourable DHI outcomes than emerging or high-income countries. As large parts of the African population have been widely untouched for decades by dental services, the relatively favourable outcomes in African societies are difficult to explain and contradict conventional dental theory. The reasons behind this finding are not fully understood. It is only in the area of untreated oral diseases that the African countries perform much worse than the more developed countries. Conclusion: If African countries were to concentrate their scarce resources on a few vital segments of oral health, they would have the opportunity, in light of favourable morbidity structures, to gradually improve the oral health status of large parts of the population. Should they choose this route, priority should be given to the young generation. Three key action fields are decisive: mobilising oral self-care, enlarging the dental workforce by training sufficient mid-level personnel and creating a true primary oral health care system which is community-centred and complemented by strictly preventive, minimally invasive and tooth-retaining treatments under the guidance of a strong public sector.

DIGITAL LINGUISTIC AND CROSS-CULTURAL REFERENCE GUIDE AS A MEANS OF SOCIO-CULTURAL COMPETENCE FORMATION IN TEACHING RUSSIAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The article is devoted to the issues of improving the linguodidactic arsenal of means for developing the sociocultural competence of foreign students from Arabicspeaking countries, expanding the teacher's methodological tools, increasing the degree of implementation of the principle of multimodality, optimizing the learning process of RFL and organizing independent work of students. The purpose of this article is to methodologically substantiate a new linguodidactic means of developing sociocultural competence when teaching Russian as a foreign language to an Arabic-speaking audience at the initial stage - a digital linguistic and cultural reference book. The first part of the article provides a theoretical overview of current research devoted to the search for ways to present educational material of a reference nature in the form of a linguistic and cultural dictionary, a linguistic and cultural commentary, including through digital tools, their effective and appropriate inclusion in the teaching of RFL at different stages in order to build up background knowledge and formation of sociocultural competence, which emphasizes the relevance and timeliness of the development and creation of a digital linguistic and cultural directory...

Validation of the Arabic strengths and difficulties questionnaire in Qatar

BackgroundThe Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening questionnaire to identify children and youth’s emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer issues, and prosocial behaviors. The objective of this study was to validate the SDQ-Arabic against trained clinicians’ diagnoses for the first time in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country by examining its ability to discriminate between clinically referred and community youth samples, and to differentiate between major categories of diagnoses within a clinically referred youth sample.ResultsWe recruited two samples of 13–17-year-old Arabic-speaking youth and their parents in Qatar: a clinically-referred sample from a child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) outpatient clinic and a stratified, representative school sample. Survey data, including the SDQ-Arabic, were collected as well as the clinical diagnoses given by the youths’ clinicians for the clinically referred sample.Using both areas under the curve and traditional analyses of variance, the SDQ-Arabic differentiated between the clinically referred and community samples of Arabic-speaking youth. In addition, the SDQ-Arabic differentiated between the main diagnoses in the clinically referred sample.ConclusionThe current study extends the validity of the SDQ-Arabic. The SDQ-Arabic, which had previously been validated in Arabic-speaking Levantine countries in the region, continues to demonstrate strong predictive value in a GCC sample. Implications for mental health screening are discussed.

A Scoping Review of Studies on Assistive Technology Interventions and Their Impact on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Arab Countries.

To review the current literature on the AT interventions and outcomes reported for individuals with ASD in Arab countries. A scoping review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was undertaken to explore the utilization of AT, segmented into three categories: low-technology (low-tech), mid-technology (mid-tech), and high-technology (high-tech) devices. Twelve studies had a pooled sample of 1547 participants, primarily male school-aged children with ASD. The AT applications evaluated ranged from low-tech visual schedules and support to high-tech virtual reality systems. Studies have reported the potential benefits of AT in improving communication, social, academic, adaptive, and functional abilities; however, comparative evidence between AT interventions is limited. The identified barriers to the adoption of AT included caregiver uncertainty about the use of AT and a lack of awareness of AT among professionals and the Arab community in general. Available studies suggest that the adoption of AT can enhance the skills of individuals with ASD in Arab countries. However, more rigorous studies across diverse demographic groups and Arab national regions are needed to strengthen the evidence base and provide appropriate recommendations.

Awareness of Healthy Lifestyle Among Elderly Population During Aging in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

The research explores healthy aging among elderly individuals globally and in Saudi Arabia. Factors like health services, lifestyle, and chronic diseases affecting seniors are examined. However, there is a gap in culturally relevant research, particularly in Arabic-speaking countries. This study aims to understand elderly individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding healthy lifestyles for effective functional preservation in aging. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, specifically Al-Ahsa, from February to May 2023. The Raosoft calculator was employed to determine a sample size of at least 384 participants. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Regarding the associations between knowledge levels and demographics, education significantly impacts knowledge (p=0.003). Retired respondents exhibit higher knowledge (50.4%) compared to those with jobs (10.4%) (p=0.002). Smoking has a significant impact on knowledge (p=0.012). Regarding the opinions on elderly care, respondents agree on the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables (52.2%), increased protein intake (64.3%), less fat (83.5%), and regular exercise (44.3%). Supplements' necessity is disagreed upon (95.7%). Living with family is favored (67.8%), and elderly self-management is recognized (60.9%). Significant differences are seen in fruit and vegetable consumption (p=0.001), less fat usage (p=0.000), exercise habits (p=0.000), smoking (p=0.000), and using just salt in cooking (p=0.000). Study findings underscore the importance of education in influencing healthy behaviors and informed choices, with education levels significantly impacting knowledge levels. Respondents' preferences for balanced diets, exercise, and self-management reflect a positive trend towardembracing healthy aging principles. Notably, the study identifies disparities between knowledge groups in various lifestyle factors, highlighting the potential of education to drive positive changes in behaviors.

Factor structure and psychometric properties of an Arabic version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, short form (IGDS-SF9).

In its most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the American Psychological Association recognized that internet gaming disorder is a psychological condition and provides nine criteria for its diagnosis, and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, short form (IGDS-SF9) was developed to assess individuals. To develop and investigate the psychometric properties of an Arabic version of IGDS-SF9. A five-stage translation and verification process produced an Arabic version of IGDS-SF9, and a study was conducted using a sample of 410 respondents (45.6% females, mean age = 17.6, SD = 1.56) to assess its psychometric properties. Respondents completed the Arabic version, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, as well as a demographic survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, measurement invariance, item response theory, convergent, concurrent, criterion validity, and internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were employed to validate the scale. The exploratory factor analysis suggested the scale's unidimensional structure; the confirmatory factor analysis exhibited good model fit and factor loadings. Measurement invariance, and concurrent, convergent, and criterion validity were established, resulting in good internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the scale. The Arabic version of IGDS-SF9 is a valid and reliable measure for research and diagnosis in Arabic-speaking countries.

Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of the Glottal Function Index in Dysphonic Patients.

The Glottal Function Index (GFI) is a four-item self-administered survey suitable for the evaluation and treatment of patients with glottal dysfunction. To date, it has been translated into Lithuanian, Persian, and Hebrew. This study is intended to translate and cross-culturally adapt the GFI for use in Arabic-speaking patients with dysphonia. This work is a cross-sectional study involving the administration of the GFI to participants with dysphonia (cases) and patients without dysphonia (controls). The validation process included reliability and validity assessments. The GFI was translated using forward and backward translation methods from English into Arabic. The questionnaire's reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC). The Mann-Whitney test evaluated validity by comparing cases and controls. Finally, the Kruskal-Wallis test examined differences in the GFI across various pathologies. The GFI demonstrated favorable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.848) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.993). Significant differences in the A-GFI score between the cases and controls were also observed (P<0.001), supporting the instrument's validity. However, no statistically significant differences were found in A-GFI across different diagnoses (P=0.712). The A-GFI is a valid and reliable screening tool for clinicians to assess dysphonia and voice impairment in patients in Arabic-speaking countries. The tool is easy to administer in daily clinical practice given its brevity and self-administration.

Registered report protocol: Perceptual effects of Arabic grammatical gender on occupational expectations in a gamified speech production task.

The default use of masculine morphology to refer to all genders in Arabic-speaking countries is largely unquestioned and widely accepted. However, research on masculine generic morphology in other gender-marked languages has shown that this can create an over-representation of men and a male-bias in perception. Given the extensive use of default masculine grammatical gender in the context of job recruitment, education, and formal communication where women are typically underrepresented and men overrepresented, this widely accepted notion needs to be investigated. The primary aim of this research is to understand how grammatical gender in Arabic mediates occupational expectations based on the language currently used in job recruitment in Arabic speaking countries. Specifically, the study explores how the use of default masculine grammatical gender can create a male-bias in perception. The secondary aim of this research is to test whether gender-inclusive language can reduce this male-bias in perception and instead increase the accessibility, activation, and retrieval of exemplars related to other gender minorities (i.e., reduce male-bias in perception). This is achieved through a novel prompted speech production experiment, based on an adaptation of the popular board game 'Taboo' where participants are asked to describe role nouns presented (e.g., doctor or nurse) in different language conditions.

Validation of an Arabic version of the eating disorder inventory’s body dissatisfaction subscale among adolescents, adults, and pregnant women

IntroductionThe 9-item Body Dissatisfaction Subscale (BDS) of the Eating Disorder Inventory is one of the most used tools for assessing thinness-oriented body dissatisfaction in research and clinical practice. However, no validated Arabic version of this scale exists to date. In this study, we sought to validate this instrument in three samples of native Arabic-speaking adolescents, adults, and pregnant women from Lebanon.MethodsA total of 826 adults, 555 adolescents, and 433 pregnant women were included. To examine the factor structure of the BDS, we performed an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), using a principal component analysis via the FACTOR software on the first split-half subsample among Lebanese adults. We used data from the second split-half in the adult sample to conduct a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) through the SPSS AMOS v.29 software. That verified model was tested via CFA on adolescents and pregnant women.ResultsThe EFA showed a bidimensional structure for the BDS, with all 9 items retained and divided into Factor 1 = Body Satisfaction (negatively-worded items) and Factor 2 = Body Dissatisfaction (positively-worded items). The CFA demonstrated invariable goodness-of-fit of the instrument in the three studied populations. McDonald’s omega values were also adequate in the three samples, demonstrating its reliability. Moreover, the BDS showed invariance across sex among both adolescents and adults. Finally, higher BDS scores were correlated with more disordered eating, less body appreciation and less functionality appreciation, thus attesting to convergent validity of the scale. In addition, BDS scores correlated positively with depression and anxiety scores, indicating adequate patterns of divergent validity.ConclusionIn light of our findings, we endorse the use of the BDS by healthcare professionals in Arabic-speaking countries, in order to assess thinness-oriented body dissatisfaction in an appropriate and timely manner and ease early referral to a specialist, thereby preventing the deleterious health-related risks associated with this condition.

Psychometric properties of the short form of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory in the Arabic language

ABSTRACT Interests in including mindfulness techniques in medical and psychological fields have been increasing recently. Accordingly, it is important to validate the short form of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI-14) to help professionals living in Arabic speaking countries. Thus, we aimed to validate the FMI-14 in the Arabic language (FMI-Ar) in Arabic-speaking university students from Lebanon. We carried-out a cross-sectional study between July and September 2021; 363 university students (mean age 22.65 ± 3.48 years, 61.7% females) were enrolled. The McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha values for the total score were excellent (0.92 for both). Confirmatory factor analysis of the one-factor model of the FMI-Ar showed satisfactory fit indices: χ2/df = 218.33/77 = 2.83, RMSEA = 0.071 [0.060–0.082], CFI = 0.92, and TLI = 0.90. Additionally, the FMI score was negatively associated with depression (r = –0.51; p = 0.001) and anxiety (r = –0.48; p < 0.001). All hypotheses (factor, convergent, and divergent validity) related to the FMI-Ar were verified in our study. Therefore, professionals can now benefit from the FMI-Ar, a suitable scale to measure mindfulness among Lebanese University students.

The (In)effectiveness of Conspiracy Theories in the Arab World

ABSTRACT 1 This article explores the spread of conspiracy theories in the Arab world, specifically in the Arabic speaking countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), through a state-security prism. It downplays the common assumption that Arab culture is more prone than others to accepting conspiracy theories and instead establishes a link between the level of Arab states’ roles in policing information and the (in)effectiveness of conspiracy theories. The article argues that, through a top-down dissemination of information, Arab states have played a key role in spreading conspiracy theories to advance their agenda. Inversely, they have also successfully muted conspiracy theories that did not serve their agenda. To illustrate the salient role of Arab states in either spreading and/or muting conspiracies, this article explores three cases. The first case examines the success of Arab states in spreading conspiracy narratives centered on Israel as part of their response to their defeats in the 1948 and 1967 wars. The second case examines the success of some Arab states in muting COVID-19 conspiracy theories, focusing on regimes assessed by Freedom House as “not free” on Internet freedom. The third case focuses on Arab states assessed by Freedom House as “partly free” and shows that they fared just as poorly as their Western counterparts in overcoming vaccine hesitancy.

An ecosystemic view on refugee mental health care: on caring environments and their interaction.

Despite the burden of mental health problems among refugees, knowledge about mental health care for this group is limited. In this context, the comprehensive discussion is important because care is more than professional care, but takes place in everyday situations and between different groups of people. In this study, we look at expert views (based on profession and lived experience) on caring environments concerning refugees' mental health on different system levels. These levels include the individual level, family level, community level and the society. Additionally, we aimed to understand how these system levels interact. We conducted interviews with 11 psychotherapists from Germany and 12 participants who fled from Arabic-speaking countries to Germany. We analyzed transcripts following Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Interviewees shared ideas on how society in general (e.g. increase acceptance), professional actors (e.g. be sensitive about cultural differences), other refugees (e.g. exchange information), family/friends (e.g. provide emotional help) and refugees with mental health problems themselves (e.g. be open to involve others) could provide care. Participants provided examples of how system levels interacted, for example when legal norms made care among family members harder. The interactions between different system levels point to a multidisciplinary approach towards mental health care for refugees and call for building expert networks instead of viewing refugee mental health as a medical, psychiatric issue alone. To improve the mental health of refugees, different societal actors should keep in mind the interactions across different system levels and exchange their respective expert knowledge.

INNOVATION FOR ALL: UNLEASHING THE POWER OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION IN ARABIC SPEAKING COUNTRIES

In this study, we look at how special education teachers are increasingly using assistive technology (AT) to help children with disabilities. Our research focuses on the available literature on AT implementation in special education in Arabic-speaking nations. Our analysis includes a look at the advantages, disadvantages, and prospective applications of AT in this setting. The study's findings shed light on a number of major topics that emerge from the literature. For starters, it highlights the importance of personalised and student-centered methods to AT implementation. Recognizing each student's unique needs and abilities means that AT interventions are personalized to optimize their impact. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the vital relevance of providing adequate training and continuous support to both teachers and students who use AT. Adequate training provides educators with the skills and knowledge needed to properly apply AT, while continual support ensures its continued effectiveness in the classroom. Furthermore, the evidence demonstrates AT's tremendous potential to improve outcomes across a wide range of academic and functional areas. Students can overcome barriers, learn key skills, and actively participate in their educational path by utilizing AT technologies. Finally, this paper explores the implications of these findings for future special education research and practice. The findings of the literature study serve as a platform for future research and show the importance of continuing to investigate the influence of AT on students with disabilities in Arabic-speaking nations. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge about assistive technology in special education, particularly in Arabic-speaking countries. It is a great resource for educators, policymakers, and researchers, emphasizing the significance of student-centered approaches, training, and the potential of AT to improve results for students with disabilities.

Self and public stigma towards mental illnesses and its predictors among university students in 11 Arabic-speaking countries: A multi-site study.

This study aimed to explore self and public stigma towards mental illness and associated factors among university students from 11 Arabic-speaking countries. This cross-sectional study included 4241 university students recruited from Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Syria, Sudan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt. The participants completed three self-administrative online questionnaires-Demographic Proforma (age, gender, family income, etc.), Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale and Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire. There was a significant difference in the average mean between the 11 countries (p < 0.01) based on stigma agreement (self) and stigma awareness (public). The mean stigma agreement towards mental illnesses among university students was 19.7 (SD = 6.0), with the lowest in Lebanon, 15.9 (SD = 5.1) and the highest in UAE, 24.1 (SD = 5.6). The factors associated with stigma agreement included poor knowledge, being male, high family income, age, weak cumulative grade point average (cGPA), mothers with primary education, an unemployed parent, students in scientific colleges and fathers who completed secondary or university degrees. Furthermore, the factors associated with stigma awareness included good knowledge, acceptable cGPA and having a father who has a low income and is illiterate. Stigma towards mental illness varies among university students across Arabic-speaking countries. There is a need to sensitize youngsters to the need for a humanitarian approach in society to individuals affected by mental health concerns. Major governmental reforms must be initiated for the provision of mental health services for individuals with mental illnesses.

Integrating Language Instruction into Pharmacy Education: Spanish and Arabic Languages as Examples

Effective communication is key for healthcare providers to provide optimal care for patients. Pharmacists’ fluency in a patient’s native language is important for effective communication. Additionally, language concordance improves patients’ trust and ensures health equity. In the United States (US), Hispanics are the largest minority group, but only 36% of the pharmacy schools in the US offer Spanish courses in their curriculum. Conversely, Middle Eastern countries have implemented English as the language of instruction in pharmacy schools, though the native language of the patient population is Arabic. The discrepancy between the language of education and the language used by patients might lead to communication problems, thus limiting a pharmacist’s role in practice. This review aims to describe the efforts of pharmacy schools both in the US and Middle Eastern countries to incorporate a second language (Spanish and Arabic, respectively) in their curriculum. Spanish language content has scarcely been introduced into the pharmacy curriculum in the US, either as didactic elements (elective courses, lab sessions, modules within a course, or co-curricular programs) or as language immersion experiences (rotations and internships, nationally or abroad). In Arabic-speaking countries, an Arabic course was introduced to the pharmacy curriculum to enhance students’ communication skills. This review provides an overview of the steps taken in various pharmacy programs to prepare students for adequate multilingual speaking. The findings reveal the need for additional strategies to assess the impact of language courses on student performance and patient experience, as well as language competence in pharmacists and pharmacy students.

Translating and validating the hoarding rating scale-self report into Arabic

BackgroundHoarding disorder is characterized by a persistent inability to part with possessions due to a perceived need to keep them, regardless of their actual value. Arabic-speaking populations currently lack a validated tool specifically designed to assess hoarding symptoms.ObjectiveThis study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Hoarding Rating Scale-Self Report (HRS-SR) into the Arabic-language.MethodsThe study employed the gold standard approach to translation, involving forward translation by independent translators and back translation review. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey completed by 500 participants from four Arabic-speaking countries. Psychometric analyses included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity against generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), and confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsWith a McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha of approximately 0.80, the Arabic translation of the HRS-SR showed acceptable test-retest reliability as well as good internal consistency. The survey also showed strong convergent validity with the 7-item survey for GAD-7. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a one-factor structure, confirming that each item measured the same construct.ConclusionThe HRS-SR is a trustworthy and valid tool for evaluating hoarding symptoms in Arabic-speaking people. This survey could be helpful for both clinical and academic research. Future research should examine cultural variations in hoarding behavior in Arabic-speaking populations and validate the questionnaire in clinical populations.

Learning Arabic as a second language in Saudi universities: Ajzen’s theory and religious motivations

ABSTRACT Learning Arabic as a second language (ASL) in Arabic-speaking countries is yet to be investigated thoroughly. The present study examines 61 ASL learners from 25 countries in seven Saudi universities using a quantitative and qualitative questionnaire, with Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour used as a theoretical framework to elicit and analyze the participants' intentions, attitudes, motivations, and challenges. The findings of the quantitative items show that learners hold significant and positive intentions, attitudes, and subjective-norm and perceived-behavioural-control beliefs regarding learning Arabic. These findings show the usefulness of using social psychology to elicit and understand ASL learners' beliefs and predict their intentions to learn Arabic by adapting valid and published questionnaire items. The qualitative results show that religious factors are what motivate ASL learning in Saudi universities. For example, Arabic is the language of sacred texts, the language of the Prophet Muhammad, and the language of Heaven. The most-reported challenges are the instructors' use of local dialects and inadequate training in teaching ASL. When designing curricula, policymakers should consider social factors such as religion, literature, history, and students' backgrounds. It is also recommended that language researchers use theories from other related disciplines to understand fully the perspectives of ASL learners.