Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Evaluation of psychometric properties of the Persian version of Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammad Javad Shabani 1
Hamid Mohsenabadi 1
Zahra Zanjani 1
Fatemeh Assarian 2
1 Department of clinical psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
2 Department of psychiatry,, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
10.22038/jfmh.2019.14804
Abstract
Introduction: The concept of psychological inflexibility (PI) was proposed by the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y) is one of the tools for measuring this factor in youth. The aim of this study is to assess the factor structure and psychometric features of the Persian version of AFQ-Y.
Materials and Methods: The cases of this study included 303 school students of Kashan, Iran who were selected through cluster sampling method during 2017. The tools used were AFQ-Y and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). The factor structure of AFQ-Y was studied by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Also, the convergent validity, test-retest reliability (4-week interval) and internal consistency of AFQ-Y were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 19 and AMOS-22.
Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) indicated two factors: “cognitive fusion” and “experiential avoidance”. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the 2-factor model (RMSEA 90% CI= 0.04-0.06). Furthermore, the convergent validity(r= 0.60, P< 0.001), Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α= 0.80) and test-retest reliability coefficient (r= 0.73) of this scale were also acceptable.
Conclusion: Based on the results, the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth is an appropriate tool with acceptable psychometric features for measuring psychological inflexibility in the youth population of Iran.
Keywords
Adolescent
Experiential avoidance
Cognitive fusion
Psychological inflexibility
Psychometric properties
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 21, Issue 5
September and October 2019
Pages 293-301