Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Investigating the factor structure and validation of the electronic form of the Family Togetherness Scale (FTS) in university students during the corona crisis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Leili Shaham 1
Azita Amirfakhraei 2
Kobra Haji Alizadeh 3
1 Ph.D. student, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
2 Assistant professor of psychology, Young Researchers and Elite Club, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
3 Associate professor of psychology, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
10.22038/jfmh.2023.23024
Abstract
Introduction: The coronavirus outbreak has affected the use of printed forms tools, so validating the family functioning scale online can help solve problems in this area; therefore, this study aimed to validate the electronic form of the Family Togetherness Scale (FTS).
 
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted using a psychometric method. The statistical population consisted of all students of the Islamic Azad University of Tehran in 2020. The number of samples was determined based on psychometric criteria to 100 people for the convergent validity section and 695 for the construct validity section. The students were selected through cluster sampling method. Research data were collected through Family Togetherness Scale (FTS) and Family Assessment Device (FAD) in printed and electronic form by sending a questionnaire link to the participants' mobile phones. To examine the validity of the scale, content, concurrent, convergent, divergent, and factor analysis methods were used. We investigated its reliability using internal consistency and split-half reliability methods.
 
Results: The findings of exploratory factor analysis showed that the electronic form of the Family Functioning Scale consists of five factors and has appropriate validity and reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the five-factor model. This questionnaire was performed along with the Family Assessment Questionnaire. The results indicated the positive significant correlation between two scales (r= 0.67; P< 0.001).
 
Conclusion: Based on the results, Family Togetherness Scale (FTS) can be used to assess family functioning in Iranian populations.
Keywords
COVID-19
Factor structure
Family functioning
Scale
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 25, Issue 4
July and August 2023
Pages 253-262