Four-factor Model Research Articles

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Structure of the Social Support Scale (MOSS - SSS)

The research question was to examine the factor structure of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MOSS - SSS). This scale was constructed to provide a brief, multidimensional self-assessment instrument for social support. Social support is defined as the interaction between individuals that aims to exchange resources that enable feelings of control over a situation, competence, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. Additionally, social support represents a resource whose contribution is crucial for positive coping with stressors and psychophysical well-being. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the assumed four-factor model, confirmed in previous studies, that explored the factor structure of the MOSS - SSS scale, fits the model obtained in a sample of 397 participants from the general population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the model's adequacy. The results showed that all fit indices (X2/df = 4 RMSEA = 0.087, CFI = .925, NFI = .902, TLI = .912) were within the recommended criteria. Additionally, the Cronbach's α coefficient was .94, indicating good scale reliability. Based on the fit index values, it is possible to conclude that the four-factor model of MOSS - SSS corresponds to the theoretically assumed four-factor structure.

Development of the Menopause Perception Scale.

How women perceive menopause depends on how well they go through that period of time. However, there is no measure that can be used to assess how women perceive menopause. Therefore, we developed a valid and reliable scale (Menopause Perception Scale [MPS]) to assess how women perceive menopause. This methodological research was conducted in three stages. First, we developed items and assessed their content validity. Second, we collected data from 470 women. Third, we assessed the scale for validity and reliability. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used for construct validity. Cronbach's α was calculated for reliability. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for criterion validity. Mean comparison tests were performed for known-groups validity. The MPS had a content validity index of 0.90. It had a Kaiser-Meier-Olkin score of 0.768, for which Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (1,778.047; P < 0.001). The values were acceptable. The exploratory factor analysis yielded an 18-item structure with factor loads greater than 0.40. It also revealed a four-factor model (acceptance, perceived sexuality, normalization, and perceived support) confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis. The fit indexes were acceptable. The model explained 56.64% of the total variance. The internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0.824). There were positive correlations between the scale and its subscales. Furthermore, the MPS was significantly correlated with the Menopause Attitude Assessment Scale ( r = 0.334, P < 0.001) and the Menopause Rating Scale ( r = -0.286, P < 0.001). The MPS is a valid, reliable, user-friendly, and practical self-report measure with satisfactory psychometric properties. Researchers should conduct cross-cultural studies to adapt it to other cultures.

Examining the Genetic Links between Clusters of Immune-mediated Diseases and Psychiatric Disorders.

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases have been linked to psychiatric disorders in the phenotypic and genetic literature. However, a comprehensive model that investigates the association between a broad range of psychiatric disorders and immune-mediated disease in a multivariate framework is lacking. This study aims to establish a factor structure based on the genetic correlations of immune-mediated diseases and investigate their genetic relationships with clusters of psychiatric disorders. We utilized Genomic Structural Equation Modeling (Genomic SEM) to establish a factor structure of 11 immune-mediated diseases. Genetic correlations between these immune factors were examined with five established factors across 13 psychiatric disorders representing compulsive, schizophrenia/bipolar, neurodevelopmental, internalizing, and substance use disorders. We included GWAS summary statistics of individuals of European ancestry with sample sizes from 1,223 cases for Addison's disease to 170,756 cases for major depressive disorder. Genetic correlations between psychiatric and immune-mediated disease factors and traits to determine genetic overlap. We develop and validate a new heterogeneity metric, Q Factor , that quantifies the degree to which factor correlations are driven by more specific pairwise associations. We also estimate residual genetic correlations between pairs of psychiatric disorders and immune-mediated diseases. A four-factor model of immune-mediated diseases fit the data well and described a continuum from autoimmune to autoinflammatory diseases. The four factors reflected autoimmune, celiac, mixed pattern, and autoinflammatory diseases. Analyses revealed seven significant factor correlations between the immune and psychiatric factors, including autoimmune and mixed pattern diseases with the internalizing and substance use factors, and autoinflammatory diseases with the compulsive, schizophrenia/bipolar, and internalizing factors. Additionally, we find evidence of divergence in associations within factors as indicated by Q Factor . This is further supported by 14 significant residual genetic correlations between individual psychiatric disorders and immune-mediated diseases. Our results revealed genetic links between clusters of immune-mediated diseases and psychiatric disorders. Current analyses indicate that previously described relationships between specific psychiatric disorders and immune-mediated diseases often capture broader pathways of risk sharing indexed by our genomic factors, yet are more specific than a general association across all psychiatric disorders and immune-mediated diseases.

Parent version of the Eating Disorder Examination: Reliability and validity in a treatment-seeking sample

BackgroundAssessment of eating disorders (ED) in youth relies heavily on self-report, yet persistent lack of recognition of the presence and/or seriousness of symptoms can be intrinsic to ED. This study examines the psychometric properties of a semi-structured interview, the parent version of the Eating Disorder Examination (PEDE), developed to systematically assess caregiver report of symptoms.MethodsA multi-site, clinical sample of youth (N = 522; age range: 12 to 18 years) seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) and subsyndromal AN were assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) for youth and the PEDE for collateral caregiver report.ResultsInternal consistencies of the four PEDE subscales were on par with established ranges for the EDE. Significant medium-sized correlations and poor to moderate levels of agreement were found between the corresponding subscales on each measure. For the PEDE, confirmatory factor analysis of the EDE four-factor model provided a poor fit; an exploratory factor analysis indicated that a 3-factor model better fits the PEDE.ConclusionsFindings suggest that the PEDE has psychometric properties on par with the original EDE. The addition of the caregiver perspective may provide incremental information that can aid in the assessment of AN in youth. Future research is warranted to establish psychometric properties of the PEDE in broader transdiagnostic ED samples.

Secondary school students' perceptions of the 21st -Century 4Cs in Zimbabwe

The volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous future world has highlighted the importance of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation (4Cs) in today’s classrooms. Framed by the Partnership for 21st-Century Learning (P21) Learning and Innovation theme, the study investigates the perceptions of the 4Cs by secondary school students from four schools in Zimbabwe. Two hundred and thirty-six (236) students participated in this quantitative study. Data were collected using online and paper questionnaires. Exploratory and first-order confirmatory analysis revealed a four-factor model with excellent fit indices. The second-order confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the individual 4Cs were sub-constructs of a higher latent factor, Learning and Innovation (4Cs), where the students strongly endorsed collaboration, followed by communication, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation in decreasing magnitude. Age has a significant influence on critical thinking. The findings highlight the need for teachers to embed critical thinking and creativity acivities within collaborative and communication learning activities.

Nursing Attitudes Questionnaire: Testing the Psychometric Characteristics of the Italian Version (NAQ-IV).

The image of a nurse is a source of concern due to its impact on recruitment into the profession, political decisions about the profession, and how the image affects nursing practice. For these reasons, one of the long-term challenges is to assess and maintain a favorable public image that respects the utility and value of the nursing profession. This study aims to validate an instrument for assessing the image of the nurse as perceived by Italian citizens. A non-probabilistic sample of 564 people participated in the study between 2022 and 2023. Sociodemographic information of the Italian citizens was collected, and the instrument used to evaluate the perceived public image was the Nursing Attitudes Questionnaire (NAQ). The psychometric properties of the Italian version of the NAQ (NAQ-IV) were calculated using Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlations, skewness, and kurtosis. Factor analysis was performed using principal axis factoring and the varimax rotation method. Factor analysis revealed a four-factor model explaining more than 60.52% of the variance, with the largest variance explained by the "Role and Professionalism" factor (34.08%). The internal consistency calculation showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 for the scale and between 0.88 and 0.89 among the factors; all the items verified the item-total correlation and response variability criteria. The NAQ-IV could be a valid tool for assessing the perception of Italian citizens. However, further studies are recommended to evaluate the reliability of the instrument, especially in the evolving professional profile and social health welfare.

The Comparison of Several Factorial Structures of the Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level Z

"The Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) level Z is a broadly applied instrument for the measurement of undergraduate, gifted students’ and adults’ critical thinking abilities, however, there is a lack of studies in the literature investigating its factorial structure. The test developers emphasize the interpretation of the test results as a general critical thinking factor, including different cognitive abilities, but also highlight the overlap between the items of the subfactors. The aim of the study is the investigation of internal consistency, the comparison of different factorial structures (unidimensional, correlated, and hierarchical models), and gender invariance testing of the CCTT level Z. Hungarian-speaking undergraduate students participated in the study (N = 825). For the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) the Mplus version 8.7, with weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted estimation was used. Measurement invariance of the test across genders was analyzed using Muthén’s two-step procedure for dichotomous data. The results indicated that the correlated four-factor and second-order structures of the test exceeded the acceptable model fit criteria. Post hoc inspection was conducted on the second-order four-factor model, indicating a shortened 22-item version of the test (with a general critical thinking factor, including four subfactors: deduction, meaning and fallacies, induction, assumption identification) with excellent fit indices [χ2 (203) = 259.309, CFI = .967, TLI = .963, RMSEA = .018, SRMR = .056]. Configural and scalar invariance of the abbreviated Hungarian version of the test across genders were confirmed. Keywords: critical thinking, undergraduate students, confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance"

Development and validation of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire - Positive/Negative (ERQ-PN): Does the target of emotion regulation matter?

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) assesses emotion regulation strategies, particularly expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal. However, the ERQ does not discern between regulating positive vs. negative emotions. Recent research suggests that suppression and reappraisal can impact mental health differently when targeting positive vs negative emotions. We developed and validated the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire - Positive/Negative (ERQ-PN), designed to measure positive and negative forms of suppression and reappraisal strategies. We recruited 963 participants (female = 478) through Prolific.com and administered the ERQ-PN. Participants had an average age of 45 years and were predominantly White (74%) and heterosexual (84%). Structural validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analyses. Model fit was estimated using the comparative fit index and the root-mean-square error of approximation. We also used the Bayesian information criterion to compare the fit of different models. Overall, participants used reappraisal more often to decrease negative emotions (vs. increasing positive) and leaned toward using suppression more for negative (vs. positive) emotions. These analyses revealed that the four-factor model (Model 2) delineating four latent variables (positive reappraisal, negative reappraisal, positive suppression, and negative suppression) had a good fit (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0. 97, TLI = 0.96, χ 2(98) = 531.28, p < 0.001). An incremental validity assessment revealed that positive and negative reappraisal correlated similarly with related mental health constructs. By contrast, suppression of negative vs. positive emotions was differentially associated to the validators tested. The ERQ-PN represents a valid measure of emotion regulation that accounts for both positive and negative emotions.

Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of the Social Stigma Scale

The present study was designed to translate, validate, and adapt the Social Stigma Scale (SSS) (Maria et al., 2020) in the English language. The current study was designed in two phases. The first phase was the SSS’s translation into the English language through the forward and backward translation methods. The linguistic equivalence between the English and Urdu versions of the scale of SSS was measured (r=.97) in the pilot study, where an item was excluded due to low inter-item reliability. Secondly, the psychometric properties of the translated version of the SSS were established using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Convergent and Divergent Validity, and Test-Retest Reliability. The EFA retrieved a factors solution with 19 items, and the CFA confirmed a four-factor model with 12 items. The convergent and divergent validity and test-retest reliability showed that the translated version of the scale was a valid and reliable measure of the Social Stigma Scale among parents of disabled children.

Investigating motivations to eat: Refining and validating a framework of Eating Behaviour Traits in dieters and the general population

Due to relationships between diet and health including obesity, there is a need to examine the explanatory power of factors that motivate people to (over or under) eat. In a previous investigation, a four-factor subscale-based model of eating behaviour traits (EBTs) was developed which identified individual differences in psychological factors influencing motivations to eat and some residual uncertainties. The current study used a data-driven and theory-driven approach, including individual items to refine and extend previous EBT models. The aim was to examine and validate the domain structure of a framework for EBTs. The analysis used two samples including a representative sample of the UK population (n = 2010, 51% female, 49% male, 18–88 years), and members of a weight management program (n = 2317, 96.6% female, 2.8% male, 21–84 years), who completed 5 questionnaires including 10 EBTs. The results found some support for a 6-factor model, encompassing reactive eating, negative emotional eating, positive emotional eating, restricted eating, homeostatic eating, and body-food choice congruence (data-driven model) or eating for health (theory-driven model). There were differences between the data-driven model and the theory-driven model regarding the 6th factor. Additionally, the data-driven model did not distinguish between eating for pleasure and reactive eating. The models demonstrated that the eating behaviour factors were significantly associated with BMI category. Overall, this research contributes to a more structured understanding of the dimensions of motivation underlying EBTs, emphasising the utility of this framework for identifying at-risk individuals and tailoring interventions to meet specific individual needs.

Psychometric Properties of the MOVES Scale for Tourette Syndrome and Comorbidities in a Chinese Cultural Context.

The Motor tic, Obsessions and Compulsions, Vocal tic Evaluation Survey (MOVES) is a widely used screening tool for Tourette syndrome (TS) and associated comorbidities. This study evaluated its applicability for children in China using 7,125 participants from the National Center for Children's Health (Beijing). Psychometric evaluations included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, yielding a 16-item, four-factor model that explained 55.11% of the variance and demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.86). The scale showed strong convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity and was significantly correlated with other established TS scales. The results affirm the reliability and validity of the MOVES for screening TS in Asian contexts, addressing a crucial gap in the region's TS assessment tools.

The structure of emotion regulation strategies among Korean adults

Emotion regulation is a fundamental process that involves monitoring, evaluating, and modifying emotional responses to achieve personal goals. Recently, a growing body of research has challenged the exclusive focus on individual emotion regulation strategies due to conceptual and empirical overlaps among them. This study explored the higher-order factor structure of emotion regulation strategies within the South Korean cultural context. Through a survey of 450 Korean adults and utilizing exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, we examined the structure of emotion regulation strategies. Our results indicate that a four-factor model fit the data best. Regarding maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, our study identified two higher-order factors: disengagement and cognitive perseverance strategies. Notably, we also found two higher-order factors of adaptive strategies in the South Korean context: acceptance-based regulation and effortful cognitive regulation factors. Through the examination of the fitness of the structure of emotion regulation strategies from a Western sample to a South Korean sample, this study adds to the body of research on emotion regulation, highlighting the significance of targeting higher-order emotion regulation factors in cognitive behavioral therapy.

Anxiety, a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease: what is the best index

BackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) is known as the leading cause of disability and death globally. Anxiety disorders are also recognized as common types of mental disorders that substantially impact global health. Iran ranks among the countries with a high incidence of CAD and anxiety disorders. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the potential association and epidemiological aspects of anxiety and CAD within the population of Mashhad, the second most popoulos city in Iran.MethodsThe present study is based on extracted data from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study which is a 10-year prospective cohort study intended to assess the effects of various CAD risk factors among Mashhad city residents. Anxiety scores were assessed at the baseline using Beck Anxiety Inventory and individuals were classified based on the BAI 4-factor structure model which included autonomic, cognitive, panic, and neuromotor components. Accordingly, the association between baseline anxiety scores and the BAI four-factor model with the risk of CAD events was analyzed using SPSS software version 21.ResultsBased on the results, 60.4% of the sample were female, and 5.6% were classified as having severe forms of anxiety. Moreover, severe anxiety was more prevalent in females. Results showed a 1.7% risk of CAD (p-value < 0.001) over 10 years with one unit increase in anxiety score. Based on the 4-factor model structure, we found that only panic disorder could significantly increase the risk of CAD by 1.1% over the 10-year follow-up (p-value < 0.001).ConclusionAnxiety symptoms, particularly panic disorder, are independently and significantly associated with an increased overall risk of developing CAD over a 10-year period. Therefore, further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms through which anxiety may cause CAD, as well as possible interventions to mitigate these processes.

Understanding parents’ pragmatic and emotional attachments to ‘their' language in multilingual family contexts: exploring self-assessment options for family well-being

ABSTRACT In recent years, the conceptualisation of heritage languages in both family and society has received increased attention, including the motivations behind heritage language maintenance. This paper explores the development of the Heritage Language Identity Questionnaire (HLI-Q) as a tool for facilitating reflective discussions with parents in multilingual family contexts. Informed by preceding studies which established a theoretical framework to help describe parents’ pragmatic and emotional attachments to ‘their’ language within the family context, an initial form of the HLI-Q instrument was administered to 505 participants for further development. Exploratory factor analysis of the resulting data is supportive of the four-factor theoretical model while also yielding a helpfully reduced set of 20 questionnaire items, facilitating further use of the instrument by professionals and parents to help explore their attachments to linguistic heritage within their family contexts. The study contributes an important tool to improve understanding of emotional and pragmatic reasons behind heritage language maintenance, opening up opportunities for family support and further research with specific population groups.

Aspects of Identity Questionnaire-IV: An Examination of Structural Validity, Gender Invariance, and Relationships with Mental Health and Basic Psychological Needs Among Adolescents

The present research evaluated evidence for structural and convergent validity and measurement invariance across gender of the Aspects of Identity Questionnaire-IV (AIQ-IV), which is designed to measure four identity orientations: Personal, Relational, Public, and Collective. We recruited two independent samples of Serbian adolescents aged 15–19 years (n 1 = 436, n 2 = 452). Both exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied to examine the factor structure of the AIQ-IV. The ESEM model with four factors demonstrated a superior fit to the data in both samples and resulted in well-defined factors and deflated latent factor correlations compared to the CFA model. Multiple-group analysis supported the scalar invariance of the four-factor ESEM model across gender. The evidence for the convergent validity of the ESEM AIQ-IV factors was supported by meaningful correlations with various mental health indicators (life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, internalizing behaviors, and externalizing behaviors) and basic psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) satisfaction and frustration. Our findings support the use of AIQ-IV as a multidimensional measure of identity orientations among adolescents and confirm the usefulness of applying the ESEM framework to evaluate the validity aspects of this scale.

Assessing the validity and reliability of enabling structure scale in mainland China

PurposeDeveloping an enabling bureaucratic structure for school organization has been an important aim of education governance reforms in China, like many societies across the globe, since the 1990s. However, there is a lack of valid measures to investigate the extent to which the Chinese education governance reforms facilitate the development of the enabling structure of school bureaucracy and examine the antecedents and consequences of enabling school bureaucracy. Thus, the study was conducted to validate the Chinese version of the Enabling Structure Scale (ESS-Ch), which is used to assess school bureaucracy in China.Design/methodology/approachThe study surveyed 1,146 teachers enrolled in professional development courses provided by a Beijing university. The validation process involved two phases. In the first phase, the sample was divided into three subgroups for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and cross-validation. In the second phase, reliability and validity were assessed utilizing the entire sample.FindingsIt indicated a four-factor model of the ESS-Ch: enabling formalization, coercive formalization, enabling centralization and hindering centralization. Factor loadings ranged from 0.72 to 0.88, composite reliabilities ranged from 0.82 to 0.95 and values of average variance extracted ranged from 0.61 to 0.80.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to the international literature by validating the ESS-Ch so as to provide a standard measure that can be applied in comparative studies on enabling school bureaucracy between Chinese and Western cultures.Originality/valueThe study is original by validating the ESS-Ch based on a sample of 1,146 teachers in China.

Validating the Spanish translation of the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5) in a sample of individuals with traumatic brain injury.

There is controversy regarding the comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study translated the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to Spanish and validated it in a sample of patients with TBI 6 months after the injury. The study included 233 patients (162 males and 71 females) recruited from four Spanish hospitals within 24 h of traumatic brain injury. A total of 12.2% of the sample met the provisional PTSD diagnostic criteria, and the prevalence was equal between male and female participants. The analysis confirmed the internal consistency of the translated instrument (α = 0.95). The concurrent validity of the instrument was confirmed based on high correlation coefficients of 0.7 and 0.74 with the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Exploratory factor analysis also confirmed that the items on the PCL-5 can be differentiated from the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 items. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the structural validity of the Spanish translation of the PCL-5 with three different models. CFA partially confirmed the four-factor PTSD model, whereas both the six-factor anhedonia model and the seven-factor hybrid model showed adequate fit. However, the difference between the anhedonia and hybrid models was not statistically significant; moreover, both models showed signs of overfitting. Therefore, the utility of these models should be reexamined in future studies. Overall, the results suggest that the Spanish translation of the PCL-5 is a reliable and valid instrument for screening PTSD symptoms among Spanish TBI patients. The Spanish translation of the PCL-5 is also presented in the manuscript.

Does the Paraphilia Scale Work for Everyone? Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Measurement Invariance Across Gender and Sexual Orientation Groups

ABSTRACT We conducted three studies to examine the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Paraphilia Scale, a measure of paraphilic interests used in multiple studies. In the first study, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing different a priori models with a community sample of 1,040 adults previously reported by Seto et al. (2021), and found support for a hierarchical four-factor model: An agonistic continuum involving coercion or physical pain (biastophilia, sexual sadism, masochism), chronophilias (pedophilia, hebephilia), courtship disorders (voyeurism, exhibitionism, and frotteurism), and fetishism (object fetishism, transvestic fetishism, urophilia-coprophilia). This factor structure was replicated in a second study comprising a combined sample of 400 mTurk participants and 870 university students. The third study analyzed the community sample and found evidence of configural invariance but not scalar or metric invariance across gender (man or woman) and sexual orientation for gender (heterosexual or other sexual orientation). This indicates that the factor structure of the Paraphilia Scale is robust for gender and sexual orientation for gender, but factor loadings differ across these groups, as do the loadings of individual items on the four factors. Implications for research on gender and sexual orientation differences in paraphilic interests are discussed.

Measuring identification with narrative characters: the development and validation of a new scale

During narrative reception, one psychological response audiences may experience toward story characters is identification, which involves a sense of merging between self and character. Given the lack of formally validated measures of this construct in the literature, the current paper introduces a new 12-item scale for measuring identification. Scale development and validation took place over three sequential studies. Exploratory factor analysis in Study 1 (N = 224) indicated four related factors: merging, perspective-taking, understanding, and emotional involvement. In Study 2 (N = 191), confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a second-order four-factor model provided a good fit to the data and a more parsimonious explanation of the scale’s factor structure compared to a first-order model. In addition, the overall scale and subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency and correlated in the expected directions with theoretically relevant and irrelevant constructs. Using a more demographically diverse sample, Study 3 (N = 290) established measurement invariance of the scale across two narratives in terms of configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance, and provided further support for its factor structure, reliability, and validity.

Design and Psychometric Properties of the Student Perception of Teacher Care Scale in University Students

Teacher care in the university setting is crucial for the academic, emotional, and social development of students, encompassing moral virtues such as compassion and professional competence. The students’ perception of teacher care directly relates to their well-being and active participation in learning. Despite the recognized importance of teacher care, there is a lack of adequate instruments to measure it, especially in specific cultural and educational contexts like Peru. The aim of this research is to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a scale measuring student perception of teacher care in the Peruvian university context, to provide a valid and reliable tool for future research and educational practices. An instrumental study was conducted with 910 university students aged between 18 and 50 years (M = 20.2, SD = 3.45). The Student Perception of Teacher Care Scale (SPTCS) was used, divided into five dimensions (Compassion, Competence, Confidentiality, Trust, and Awareness). Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the scale’s internal structure, along with reliability analyses and measurement invariance across genders. The EFA identified a four-factor structure reflecting the dimensions of Confidentiality and Trust, Competence, Awareness, and Compassion. The CFA confirmed this structure with good fit indices for four-factor models, which was then adjusted to a five-factor model, one of which is a second-order factor (χ2 = 720.727, df = 369, CFI = 0.951, TLI = 0.946, RMSEA = 0.046, and SRMR = 0.032). Internal reliability was high (α and ω &gt; 0.9 for all factors). Measurement invariance was established across genders, allowing for valid comparisons between men and women. It is concluded that the Student Perception of Teacher Care Scale proves to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring teacher care in the Peruvian university context. The results emphasize the multidimensionality of teacher care and its significance for the educational environment and student experience. This study contributes to educational research and teaching practice, offering a means to assess and improve caring relationships in higher education.