Psychometric Features of the Emotional Climate Scale for Couples in Divorce Applicants

Background: In Iranian courts, counseling centers, and research institutes, the Family Emotional Atmosphere Questionnaire (FEAQ) by Navardgahfard in ۱۹۹۴ is widely used to assess the status of marital relationships. However, the FEAQ's contents are outdated, containing irrelevant questions, and lacking valid psychometric properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to revise and validate the psychometric properties of the Emotional Climate Scale for Couples (ECSC). Methods: This study was descriptive-correlational in nature and had practical implications. It was conducted from January ۱۷th to July ۳۰th, ۲۰۲۳. All divorce applicants referred by the courts to family counseling centers were included in the study population. Initially, the FEAQ was extracted from the website and modified to consist of ۲۱ questions related to emotional climate between couples. Results: Subsequently, the face validity of ECSC was confirmed by experts, and exploratory factor analysis (N=۳۰۷) demonstrated two subscales of lack of feelings and cooperation, and forced with limitations, explaining ۶۳.۲۶% of the variance in the ۲۱ ECSC items. Confirmatory factor analysis (N=۲۰۵) also indicated an acceptable fit for the ECSC model and showed good construct validity. The test-retest reliability (N=۳۵, with a three-week interval) was ۰.۸۳ for the total scale, ۰.۸۲ and ۰.۸۱ for the two subscales, respectively, while Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the two factors were ۰.۹۳ to ۰.۹۴ and ۰.۹۶ for the total scale. Conclusion: Therefore, ECSC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the emotional climate between couples and has wide applicability.

کلیدواژه ها:

psychometrics ، family ، expressed emotion ، divorce