Reliability and Validity Study of Turkish Form of the Psychological Distress Scale

Abstract

Statement of Problem: Traumatic events are conceptualized as environmental stressors and affect large numbers of people throughout the world. Psychological problems may arise after being exposed to a stressful event. It is important to have reliable instruments with which to address traumatic events' long term consequences. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to adapt the Psychological Distress Scale (PDS) into Turkish by examining the results of reliability and validity analyses results of Turkish form of the PDS. Method: This study involved 1144 adults and young people. The self-report PDS was translated into Turkish and named as Psikolojik Yogun Stres Olcegi (PYSO). Data was collected within two mounts of the Marmara Earthquake, which occurred in the Marmara region of Turkey in August 1999. Outcome variables also included the measures of state-trait anxiety and Impact of Event. Correlation coefficient, T-test, analyses of variance, Factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlation, and standard error of measurement techniques were used to analyze the data. Findings and Results: In the preliminary analyses, alpha was found to be.79 for the original English PDS forms. Following the translation and back-translation process, for transliteral equivalence adequate correlation values obtained between English and Turkish forms. For criterion-related validity, to examine the construct validity of the PYSO, statistically significant correlation values obtained between PYSO and Turkish form of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-STAI. Results suggested that the constructs were relevant to each other. Statistically significant relationships with other similar measures provided evidence for the concurrent validity. For predictive validity, hypotheses testing method was used. Results showed that PYSO mean scores were significantly different for gender, experiencing area, removing time from disaster area, having lost a close one, and being a mother. Analysis of variance results showed that age, education level, job, and area of residence were also significant factors in the mean scores. According to factor analysis results, PYSO had two dimensions but could also be used as a one-dimensional general scale. In order to test reliability, Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation coefficients techniques were used to assess the internal consistency. The Cronbach's alpha score for the PYSO was .83. This was also very similar with Turkish form of the Impact of Events Scale's alpha scores which were obtained from the same groups. These results showed that translated Turkish forms of scale were easily understandable by Turkish groups. Item-total correlation was ranging from .79 to .82 for total group and subgroups. The standard error of measurement technique was also used for reliability analyses and was found to be 2 points at .01 level. Recommendations: PYSO can be used to evaluate psychological distress in psychometric assessment process of related studies. Further study is recommended in order to assess the reliability and validity of PYSO with different populations and in different stressful events.