Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of Social Cognitive Scales Related to Substance Use Behavior in Iranian Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Using cultural-adapted scales and inventories is important both in research and treatment. There is not an Iranian version of social cognitive scales related to substance use behavior. Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine factorial validity and reliability of the Iranian version of social cognitive scales related to adolescent substance use behavior. Patients and Methods: This study was cross-sectional research using astratified, two stage, cluster sampling based on the popuation of different areas of Isfahan city in Iran. 720 adolescents aged 14 to 18years old completed the questionnairs: European Drug Abuse Prevention (EUDAP) and The Peer Influence Scale. The translation and back-translation, and cultural adaptation with face and content validity, were done in the first step. Factorial and construct validity were assessed in 3 steps, including: item analysis, explanatory analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was also assessed with Cronbach's alph. Results: In the cultural adaption, some of the items were changed or removed according to the experts’ view. The EFA in the cross sectional study showed appropriate loading items and revealed a 23-item scale with 5 factors including: refusal self-efficacy, negative and positive outcome expectancies, intention, and peer influence, which was in line with the original questionnaires. The result of confirmatory factor analysis showed appropriate fit indices for 5 factor model including (x2 = 522, df = 144, x2/ df = 3.6, RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.94, IFI = 0.94, and NFI = 0.92). Internal consistency was found to be in the range of 0.74 to 0.89 for all subscales. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the Persian version of social cognitive determinant appears to be a psychometrically robust instrument and could significantly predict substance use behavior in Iranian adolescents.