Valid Measurement Research Articles

Development and psychometric validation of the comfort scale for injection

BackgroundPatients’ comfort level during the injection procedure affects the quality of care. However, the literature does not provide a valid, reliable, and specific measurement tool to measure this level.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine patients’ comfort levels during the injection procedure.MethodThe study was designed methodologically. The study data were collected at two Hospitals. The sample consisted of 102 patients in the pilot application stage and 186 patients in the main application stage. The study’s data collection tools were the “Personal Information Form,” “VAS for Comfort,” and the “Comfort Scale for Injection” draft. The obtained data were used for validity and reliability analyses. Validity analyses involved content validity, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and criterion validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha and split-half tests. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 22 and AMOS. EFA used the KMO test and Bartlett’s Test (KMO = 0.878; p < 0.001), with Varimax rotation, while CFA confirmed the factor structure. Pearson correlation evaluated criterion validity.ResultsThe scale consisted of 10 items and two sub-scales: “Comfort during the Injection Procedure” and “Environmental Comfort.” The “VAS for Comfort” and the scale and its sub-scales showed a positive correlation. The Cronbach Alpha Value of the entire scale was found to be 0.899.ConclusionThe data showed that the “Comfort Scale for Injection” is an adequate, valid, and reliable measurement tool for determining patients’ comfort level during the injection procedure. Measuring patients’ comfort levels during injection at regular intervals is recommended, as new studies are planned to increase injection comfort and adapt the “Comfort Scale for Injection” for different languages and cultures.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Adaptation of Stress Mindset Measure

Objective: This study aimed to adapt the Stress Mindset Measure to Turkish culture by conducting validity and reliability analyses. Method: Convenience sampling method was used in this study, which was conducted with the survey model. With 354 adult participants, Stress Mindset Measure, Life Satisfaction Scale and Perceived Stress Scale were used as data collection tools. Cronbach's alpha and two-half reliability coefficient were used for the reliability of the Stress Mindset Measur. The results of the analyses showed that the internal consistency coefficient was .85 and the split-half reliability coefficient was .76. Furthermore, the difference between the 27% lower and upper groups among the participants was statistically significant. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the construct validity of the Stress Mindset Measure. Results: The model fit values were at an acceptable level. Item factor loadings ranged between .49 and .78 and the scale was found to have a single-factor structure. Besides, the results of the analyses conducted to ensure convergent validity were found to be at the desired level. The concepts of perceived stress and life satisfaction were used to test criterion validity. Conclusion: Turkish adaptation of the Stress Mindset Measures a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Form of the Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior Scale

Objective: This study aims to adapt the Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior Scale, which was developed to identify pro-nature conservation behaviors, into Turkish. Method: For the validity and reliability study, 371 participants were included in the study. The suitability of the scale for Turkish culture was tested with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results: The scale, which consists of 18 items in total, has 4 sub-dimensions (Individual engagement, planting, collective engagement , wildlife). Overall Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was .85; .73 for the individual engagement factor, .86 for the planting factor, .71 for the collective engagement factor and .61 for the wildlife factor, and convergent validity was supported by positive correlations with the Environmental Behavior Scale, the New Ecological Paradigm Scale, the Generalized Self-Esteem Scale and the Warnick-Edinburg Mental Well-Being Scale. Conclusion: Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in Türkiye.

Development of an empathy scale in nurses

ObjectiveTo develop an empathy scale to measure the empathy in nurses.Materials and methodsThe sample of the study were collected between March and May in 2023 from 720 nurses working in private and state hospitals in İstanbul. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were carried out. IBM SPSS and AMOS were utilized for statistical analyses.ResultsKMO and Bartlett’s test values of scale showed that the dataset was convenient for factor analyses (KMO = 0.94, Chi-Square = 9683.89, df = 595). In exploratory factor analysis, the 16 items comprising scale were distributed in three subscales. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the scale was in sufficient model fit. Cronbach’s alpha of the total scale was 0.91.ConclusionEmpathy scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool to evaluate the empathy levels of nurses in three subscales: Emotional Empathy, Cognitive Empathy and Compassionate Empathy. The scale is a valuable tool for quality nursing care and contributes to the definition of strategies that advance the quality of nursing care.

Adaptation of Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale: Latent Profile Analysis

Artificial intelligence literacy is vital for individuals' adaptation to the future workforce and societal changes by enabling them to understand and effectively use AI technologies and critically evaluate their impact on society. In this study, the validity and reliability of the artificial intelligence literacy scale in Turkish language were tested and the latent profiles of the students were determined. This methodological study was carried out with a total of 729 students between December 2023 and February 2024. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted with SPSS 27 and AMOS 24, and latent profile analysis was handled with R programming language. According to the results of the CFA analysis of the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale, the fit indices were found to be significant (X²/sd= 3.832, RMSEA=.062, CFI=.949, AGFI=.933, GFI=.960, NFI=.949, TLI=.928, IFI=.916). Considering the Cronbach Alpha value of the scale consisting of 4 sub-dimensions and 12 items, the internal consistency coefficientwas found to be 0.814. Since the lowest BIC value in the latent profile analysis was found in the VVV model, the VVV model was considered as the appropriate one in the study, and the class analyses were carried out through this model. With the LPA analysis, it was designated that the scale was divided into 3 classes. It was determined that the Artificial intelligence literacy scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool. After latent profile analysis, it was found out that the scale was divided into 3 classes.

Development of the Psychological Flexibility in Romantic Relationships Scale (PFRRS): A Validity and Reliability Study

This study presents the validity and reliability analyses of the Psychological Flexibility in Romantic Relationships Scale. The measurement tool, developed for individuals who have been in a romantic relationship for at least six months, has a unidimensional structure consisting of 6 items. For the validity and reliability studies, data were collected from two separate study groups in 2024. The first group consisted of 80 participants, while the second group included 218 participants. The data were analyzed using SPSS 29.00 and AMOS 24.00. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to assess the construct validity of the scale. The results confirmed that the 6-item unidimensional structure of the scale was valid. Reliability and internal consistency analyses indicated that the items were highly discriminative and reliable. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the Psychological Flexibility in Romantic Relationships Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Construct Validity of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire in a General Adult Population in Norway and Its Association with Self‐Reported General and Oral Health

ABSTRACTObjectiveIndividuals' Sense of Coherence (SOC) is measured with the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ‐13). SOC reflects a person's orientation to life and ability to manage stress, which can impact health. The aim of the study was to test the reliability and construct validity of the OLQ‐13, with self‐reported general and oral health as criterion measures, in a Norwegian general adult population.MethodsData were collected using the OLQ‐13 in addition to items measuring sociodemographic information, self‐reported general health and self‐reported oral health. This study was based on data from a population‐based cross‐sectional oral health study in Troms County, conducted from October 2013 to November 2014 (n = 1875, mean age 47.4 years, 50.5% women). Internal consistency was examined with Cronbach's alpha (α). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the construct validity (one‐ and three‐factor structure of the OLQ‐13). The associations between SOC and self‐reported general and oral health were tested using one‐way ANOVA.ResultsThe internal consistency of the OLQ‐13 was good (α = 0.84). The CFA showed that while the OLQ‐13 demonstrated an unacceptable fit, a shortened 11‐item version with a three‐factor structure revealed an acceptable fit and good internal consistency (α = 0.86). The highest mean SOC scores were found among individuals reporting good or very good general and oral health.ConclusionA three‐factor structure with an 11‐item version of the OLQ to assess SOC showed better validity than OLQ‐13 in a general population in Northern Norway. Self‐reported general and oral health can be considered appropriate criterion measures when validating SOC. To achieve a valid measurement scale for assessing SOC, a revision of the OLQ‐13 appears necessary, and further studies are needed.

Turkish validity and reliability of the Aging Simulation Experience Scale for undergraduate students of nursing: A methodological study

ABSTRACT The older adult population is growing gradually. The demographic structure is changing with the increasing elderly population. Changing demographic structure may lead to changes in the patient profile that nurses will provide care for. Nurses need to adapt to changing environments, and the quality of care they provide must reflect this. Simulating situations experienced by older adults allows future nurses to gain experience that may help raise awareness without having to face the changing patient profile. There is a need for valid and reliable measurement tools intended to evaluate simulation experiences about aging. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Aging Simulation Experience Scale into Turkish and determine its validity and reliability. A methodological and cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected between May and June 2023. The validity of the scale was determined using language, content, and construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and item analysis were used to determine the reliability of the scale. The content validity index of the scale items ranged from 0.80 to 0.95. Item-total correlations of the items ranged from 0.413 to 0.713. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.91 for the perception toward older adults dimension and 0.83 for the simulation experiences dimension. In conclusion, the Turkish form of the Aging Simulation Experience Scale was found valid and reliable.

Measuring healthcare professionals’ perceptions of their ability to adopt shared decision making: Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Danish version of the IcanSDM questionnaire

BackgroundShared decision making in healthcare is a fundamental right for patients. Healthcare professionals' perception of their own abilities to enable shared decision making is crucial for implementing shared decision making within service. IcanSDM (I can shared decision making) is a brief measure to investigate healthcare professionals' perception of shared decision making approaches to their practices. It was developed in Canada with French and English versions, and recently translated into German. This study aims to adapt the IcanSDM measure for Danish-speaking healthcare professionals, and evaluate its psychometric properties.MethodsCultural adaptation and translation based on Beaton et al.'s approach was applied. A forward translation by ten people and a backward translation by two people were performed. To assess comprehensibility, cognitive interviews were conducted with 24 healthcare professionals. Eighty healthcare professionals who were trained in shared decision making for either one hour (n = 65) or one day (n = 15) participated in the psychometric evaluation. The evaluation concerned acceptance, item characteristics, skewness, item difficulties, corrected item-total correlations, inter-item correlations, factorial structure, internal consistency, and responsiveness.ResultsThe forward and backward translation revealed few discrepancies, and participants understood the items well. The psychometric evaluation showed a high completion rate and acceptable item difficulties and discrimination values. Both the factor analysis and the internal consistency showed a 2-factor structure: 1) healthcare professionals' capacity to implement shared decision making; and 2) healthcare professionals' capacity to practise shared decision making. The IcanSDM_Danish obtained a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.74. The evaluation of responsiveness showed improvement, but was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe IcanSDM_Danish has good cross-cultural validity and internal consistency, and a 2-factor structure. The IcanSDM_Danish is capable of providing reliable and valid measurement when evaluating constructed knowledge about shared decision making, and may be able to support the implementation of shared decision making training and evaluation of its impact.

Study protocol of the planetary health action survey PACE: a serial cross-sectional survey to assess the readiness to act against climate change

IntroductionClimate change is a paramount global health threat with multifaceted implications. Societal change is required to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, as well as help people adapt to...

Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Version of the "Uncivil Behavior in Clinical Nursing Education Scale" for Nursing Students.

Background and Purpose: Nursing undergraduate students may encounter unkind behaviors during their clinical education. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the "Uncivil Behavior in Clinical Nursing Education (UBCNE) Questionnaire," which measures nursing students' perceived levels of uncivil behavior in the clinical learning environment. Methods: The study was conducted in four steps: translation, face and content validity, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability assessment. Data were collected from 216 nursing students from Turkey. Results: In the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a unidimensional factor structure with an eigenvalue above 1 was detected, and therefore the scale was analyzed as a single dimension. In the EFA with 13 items, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was 0.943, and the Barlett test result was 1862.965 (p <05). The fit indices for the class were calculated as χ2/df = 2.218, root-mean-square error of approximation = .075, and comparative fit index = 0.961. Cronbach's coefficient α (alpha) for Turkish culture was .942. Conclusion: The study showed that the Turkish version of the UBCNE scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing perceived incivil behaviours in nursing students' clinical education.

A comprehensive instrument for evaluating advanced volleyball techniques in sport science students: design, reliability, and validity

Background: The enhancement of sports performance, particularly in volleyball, relies on the use of valid and well-developed measurement tests. Numerous studies have thus developed tests tailored to different skill levels to accurately assess athletes' abilities. However, the existing instruments for measuring volleyball techniques have yet to fully address the needs of advanced levels, especially in assessing technical skills among sports science students at the advanced stage. Purpose: This study aims to develop a comprehensive volleyball skill assessment instrument for advanced-level sports students, focusing on four key techniques: serving, underhand passing, overhand passing, and spiking. The instrument underwent rigorous testing to ensure its validity and reliability, with particular attention to construct validity across different phases and indicators. Methods: The study used a development research design based on the Plomp model, involving 51 male students from the Advanced Volleyball Course at Universitas Negeri Padang. Five expert judges assessed the instrument's feasibility before implementation. The research process included preliminary research, prototyping, and assessment phases. Expert opinions were collected using a Likert scale questionnaire via the Delphi technique. Validity and reliability were analyzed using SPSS version 25, focusing on internal and external validity coefficients and Cronbach's Alpha. Results: The instrument showed high reliability, with Cronbach's Alpha values consistently above 0.87. Construct validity tests confirmed the assessment's validity, with scores indicating a strong correlation between evaluated indicators and overall skill proficiency. Conclusion: The developed instrument is a reliable and valid tool for assessing advanced volleyball skills, offering a standardized method for educators and coaches to evaluate and enhance sports science students' performance. The study highlights the importance of phase-by-phase analysis in skill assessment for more effective volleyball training programs.

Development and Validation of the Career Authenticity Scale (CAS).

The self is crucial in career development, and authenticity emerges when individuals live in accordance with their true selves. This true self includes a deep awareness of one's abilities, cognitive, physical, and emotional traits, and unbiased answers to "Who am I?". Given its importance in career development, originality can significantly impact one's professional journey. This study brings a new structure to the field of career counseling with the term career authenticity. Career authenticity is a condition that emerges when individuals manage external influences and make their career choices in accordance with their true selves, thus achieving a work life that contributes to the meaning and purpose of their lives. The Career Authenticity Scale (CAS) was developed and validated in two samples of university students. In Study 1 (n = 402), the CAS was developed, and a structure consisting of 12 items and three dimensions was obtained as a result of exploratory factor analysis. Calculations also included the internal reliability coefficients of the CAS. In Study 2 (n = 322), the structure confirming the factors obtained in the first study was confirmed. Analyses also included convergent and discriminant validity, criterion-related validity, measurement invariance across gender, and item discrimination power of the CAS. The results show that the CAS meets the conditions for convergent and discriminant validity. A positive relationship was detected between the CAS and vocational outcome expectations and career proactive behaviors. The CAS was found to provide measurement invariance at configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance levels according to gender. In conclusion, the CAS was proven to be a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Development of the Perceived Maverick Leadership Scale: Generation Z Sample

The starting point of this study is the question of what Generation Z expects from business life, which has become one of the most curious topics in today's business world with the involvement of Generation Z in business life. In addition, the relationship between maverick leadership, a new concept in the literature, and the expectations of Generation Z leaders who have just stepped into the business world is one of the reasons for the emergence of the research. In this context, the aim of the study is to develop a scale to determine how working individuals from Generation Z perceive maverick leaders. In this context, first of all, a detailed literature review was conducted about the differences between generations, the prominent characteristics of Generation Z and their expectations from their leaders, and the concept of maverick leadership. Following the screening, research was conducted on 385 Generation Z individuals working in different sectors in order to determine the maverick leadership perceptions of Generation Z individuals. After performing content validity, structure validity and explanatory factor analysis for the scale created for the research, a structural equation model was established. As a result of the analyses, the "Perceived Maverick Leadership Scale" (PMLS), a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to evaluate the perception of Maverick leadership of Generation Z employees, was developed.

Validity and Reliability Testing of the Turkish Version of the Self-Acceptance Scale for Pregnant Women

Objective: This study was conducted to adapt the Self-Acceptance Scale for Pregnant Women (SAS-PW), which was developed in Brazil, to Turkish and test the psychometric properties of its Turkish version. Method: This methodological study was carried out with 576 pregnant women who presented to the pregnancy outpatient clinics of a Research and Training Hospital in northern Turkey between December 2021 and April 2022. The validity of the Turkish version of SAS-PW was tested by conducting linguistic, content, and construct validity analyses, while its reliability was tested by conducting internal consistency and test-retest analyses. Results: According to the results of the exploratory factor analysis, the factor load values of the items and the rates of the total variance in scale scores explained by the factors were sufficient. The confirmatory factor analysis results demonstrated that the goodness-of-fit indices of the scale were within suitable ranges. The 2-factor and 10-item construct of the original SAS-PW was confirmed based on the factor analyses. The item-total score correlations of the scale were found sufficient, and the total Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of SAS-PW was determined to be 0.93. The test-retest analysis of the scale scores revealed a strong correlation between the scores of the two implementations. Conclusions: The Turkish version of SAS-PW is a valid and reliable measurement instrument to evaluate the self-acceptance levels of pregnant women in Turkish society.

The UFair-Questionnaire: Perceived university fairness and its association with mental health

Abstract Introduction University students face different stressors that might jeopardise their mental health. Hitherto, mainly general stress perceptions were assessed, which appeared inappropriate to indicate stress directly linked to the university or for deriving specific preventative measures. The aim of this study was to adapt the concept of organisational justice to universities, develop and validate a corresponding questionnaire (UFair: University Fairness Questionnaire), and estimate its association with mental health. Methods In total, 1,105 students (average age: 25.5 years [SD: 5.43]; female: 50.1%; university: 67.2%, university of applied sciences: 32.8%) were surveyed online. Perceived unfairness at the university was measured using the newly developed 20 item UFair Questionnaire. Mental health was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8, depression) and Maslach Burnout Inventory for Students (MBI-SS, burnout). Linear regression models estimated the adjusted (age, gender, type of university, lifestyle factors) relationship between perceived university injustice and mental health indicators. Results The UFair questionnaire showed good psychometric properties (Cronbach’s alpha = .960) and a unidimensional factor structure. There was a considerable association with depression (beta = .485; p &amp;lt; .001; R2 = .261) and burnout (beta = .481; p &amp;lt; .001; R2 = .250). Conclusions Perceived injustice represents not only a stressor at the workplace but also in the university setting, showing a considerable relationship with students’ mental health. University justice includes the perception of organisational aspects, the treatment of students, and consideration of the individual situation of students. The relevance of these aspects to the health of students should be recognised and taken into account by universities. The valid measurement by the UFair Questionnaire represents the basis for possible preventive approaches and interventions. Key messages • Organisational injustice exists not only in the workplace but also among students in the university setting. • Perceived unfairness among students is associated with depression and burnout.

Development and validation of a tool for assessing breast cancer health literacy among Chinese women

Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is a major malignancy that seriously threatens women’s health. No unified, evidence-based, standardized assessment tools for BC literacy are available in China yet. Objectives We sought to develop an assessment tool to measure BC health literacy among Chinese women and to test the tool’s reliability, validity, and feasibility. Methods Group discussion, expert consultation, and small-sample pilot investigation were conducted to develop an initial assessment tool. A multi-stage stratified random-sampling process was used to select women aged 18-64 years in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China, for an onsite survey. Project analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to screen the questions to create a formal assessment tool, which was further evaluated by feasibility analysis and the measurement of reliability and validity. Results The official version of the assessment tool for Chinese female BC health literacy includes 32 items. Nine common factors (policy knowledge, uncorrectable risk factors, modifiable risk factors, identification of early warning signs #1 and #2, screening methods, breast self-awareness and examination behaviors, timely seeking of medical help and standardized treatment, and rehabilitation) were extracted through exploratory factor analysis with factor loadings of 0.511-0.873 and a cumulative explained variance of 65.989%. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed χ2/df = 1.61, CFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.04, and SRMR = 0.06. The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.875, and the split-half reliability was 0.770 (both &amp;gt;0.700). Conclusions An assessment tool for Chinese female BC health literacy was developed with acceptable feasibility, reliability, and validity. The application of this tool can help to promote BC prevention and control in China and may also benefit other countries. Key messages • An assessment tool for Chinese female BC health literacy was developed with acceptable feasibility, reliability, and validity. • The application of this tool can help to promote BC prevention and control in China and may also benefit other countries.

Psychometric evaluation of a COVID-19 health literacy scale applying Rasch analysis

Abstract Background Assessing health literacy in times of the COVID-19 pandemic is vital, since health literacy has been highlighted as a personal resource for managing health information. The HLS-Covid-Q22 questionnaire was developed to measure self-reported COVID-19 health literacy in adults. It has been used and validated, mainly using confirmatory factor analysis, in some studies with different target groups. However, several comprehensive validation studies are needed to ensure the feasibility of a novel measurement tool. In the current study, Rasch analysis has been chosen, as this analysis transforms the categorical responses of the items of the HLS-Covid-Q22 into linear measures. Methods The psychometric properties of the HLS-Covid-Q22 were evaluated in a sample of 2187 German adults applying Rasch analysis. The data is from the German COVID-HL school survey that was generated by employing an online survey in school principals during the third infection wave from March to April 2021 in four federal states. Applying the Partial Credit Model for polytomous data, the responses to the HLS-Covid-Q22 items were transformed into linear measures, unidimensionality was tested and several indices to assess the quality of the measurement tool were computed. Results Unidimensionality of the questionnaire could be confirmed. The rating scale steps worked as intended. Participants used every rating category. Item fit could be verified. High reliability indices were found with a person separation index of 3.41, person reliability of .92, item separation of 20.08 as well as item reliability of 1.0. Conclusions The HLS-Covid-Q22 appeared to be a reliable and valid questionnaire which has not been validated by applying Rasch analysis before. Even though Rasch analysis is already a well-established validation method in other disciplines, it should be used to evaluate other health literacy questionnaires more often to gain comprehensive insights into the intended functioning of measurement tools. Key messages • The HLS-Covid-Q22 questionnaire appears to be a valid and reliable measurement tool. • Rasch analysis is an appropriate method to evaluate the psychometric properties of likert-type rating-scale questionnaires.

Portuguese Version of the Oral Frailty Index-8: Instrument Validation Study.

The concept of oral frailty has gained scientific and clinical relevance in recent years, and early detection can facilitate timely intervention to manage its progression. The Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8) was developed to assess community-dwelling older adults at risk for oral frailty. This study aims to investigate the psychometric validity of the OFI-8 in the Portuguese population, named the Portuguese version of the OFI-8 (OFI-8-PT), which may serve as a reference for future studies related to longevity and oral function. This study included 2 main phases, involving patients aged 60 years or older, Portuguese speakers, and those who consented to participate in the study. First, the researchers translated and cross-culturally adapted the original questionnaire to make it suitable for native Portuguese speakers. The translated tool was then assessed for psychometric validation, which consisted of test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and sex invariance measurement. A total of 159 older adults participated in the baseline survey, with almost equal numbers of male (n=79, 49.7%) and female participants (n=80, 50.3%). The OFI-8-PT demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach α=0.95) and construct validity (goodness-of-fit index=0.96; comparative fit index=0.85; and root mean square error of approximation=0.05, 90% CI 0.00-0.09). The study found sex invariance, indicating that the OFI-8-PT is equally valid for male and female participants, and the tested-retest reliability of the OFI-8-PT was good, indicating consistent results over time. The OFI-8-PT showed psychometric validity and good reliability to be used in the Portuguese population.

A questionnaire to assess ecoanxiety and its sociodemographic determinants among Italian adolescents

Abstract Background Climate change poses serious challenges to Public Health, including mental health impacts. In Italy, few studies investigated the rise of eco-anxiety, especially among adolescents, who are the main group affected by this feeling. Specific measurement tools for this population are needed to fill this gap. The aim is to adapt the Italian version of the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) to adolescents, and pair it with a socioeconomic and demographic questionnaire (SDQ) to assess determinants. Methods The Italian CCAS was modified for adolescents through a process involving a literature review, expert discussions, and a pretest. This adapted version (a-CCAS) was tested with individuals aged 14-18 years old, maintaining an ideal ratio of 10 respondents per item. Extant psychometric scales were utilized to assess its validity. The SDQ was developed from results of a systematic review of known associations between socioeconomic and demographic factors and eco-anxiety in youth, and expert discussions, and validated by piloting the SDQ with another sample of adolescents. Internal consistency of the a-CCAS and SDQ was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha (Cα). Results The a-CCAS kept most of its original content, comprising 13 items and 2 subscales: cognitive and functional impairment. Pilot respondents were 162; Cα coefficient was &amp;gt;0.7 for both subscales. Convergent and concurrent validity showed positive correlations with the extant scales. The SDQ comprised 12 items in 3 domains: family, social and political-environmental determinants. Respondents were 47 and Cα coefficient was &amp;gt;0.7. Conclusions The a-CCAS and SDQ are valid tools for assessing baseline eco-anxiety and its determinants in Italian adolescents and can contribute to Public Health efforts to reduce the climate-related mental health burden, by measuring the impact of specific educational interventions about climate change targeted at the young. This questionnaire was created as part of the PRIN P2022JJ3LB project. Key messages • These results contribute to filling an evidence gap on eco-anxiety and its socioeconomic and demographic determinants among Italian adolescents by providing researchers with a valid measurement tool. • This tool holds promise for assessing the impact of psychologically-informed educational interventions about climate change and adaptive coping strategies on adolescents’ eco-anxiety levels.