Constructing, Validating and Identifying Factor Structure of Emotional Flexibility Scale in a Sample of Hamedan Health-Care Centers Clients

Today, to accurately assess and measure a variable in the field of psychology and psychiatry it requires efficient tools. The purpose of this study was to construct, validate, and identify the factor structure of a 24-items Emotional Flexibility Scale (EFS).

This research was a descriptive-correlational study. 240 people were selected through available sampling method from all the clients of the health care centers in Hamedan and collected Psychological Well-being questionnaire and researcher-made Emotional Flexibility Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL using correlation coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Content validity index (CVI = 0.916) was calculated by help of 4 specialists.

The factor analysis showed that 3 factors with a specific value higher than one could explain 75.716 percent of the variance of the items. Also, the rotated matrix of data showed that all of the items are effective. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that goodness of fit statistics is acceptable. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole scale was 0.866 and for positive emotion regulation, negative emotion regulation, and emotion communication were 0.834, 0.761, and 0.641, respectively.

Thus, it can be concluded that the 24-items EFS in terms of validity and factor structure is a desirable tool for use in various educational, research, and clinical fields. The applicant of this tool is recommended to all professionals, students and researchers in the field of psychology and psychiatry.