Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the child forensic attitude scale

Abstract

Purpose

This study was carried out to adapt the child forensic attitude scale into Turkish and evaluate its validity and reliability.

Methods

This methodological, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with a total of 363 professionals, including 40 physicians, 87 nurses, 79 lawyers, 81 law enforcement officers, 20 psychologists, and 56 social service experts, between January 2023 and February 2023. The study data were collected online using a “Personal Information Form” and the “Child Forensic Attitude Scale”. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, item-total score analysis were used for the evaluation of the data.

Results

It was determined that the scale consisted of 28 items and three sub-dimensions, namely fear of not identifying abuse, fear of overcalling abuse, skepticism, which explained 44.11 % of the total variance. In confirmatory factor analysis, all fit indices were greater than 0.85. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was determined as 0.80 for the total scale.

Conclusions

According to the results of the analyses and evaluations in this study, the child forensic attitude scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for the Turkish sample.

Practice implications

Child sexual abuse is a serious problem globally and the fields of justice, security, health, social services need to collaborate to protect and guarantee victims' rights. Professionals working in this field have difficulties in evaluating children who have been abused. For this reason, it is very important to evaluate the attitudes of professionals, especially pediatric nurses, in this process and will guide the shaping of the initiatives to be taken.