Development and structural validation of a shortened version of the Participation Scale

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Psychometrics
• Social Science

Background:

• The Participation Scale (P-scale) is a valuable tool for assessing social participation.
• A shorter version is needed for quicker administration in diverse populations.
• Understanding the P-scale's factor structure is crucial for its accurate application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a shortened version of the Participation Scale (P-scale), termed the P-scale Short (PSS).
• To determine the factor structure of the P-scale using a large, multi-cultural dataset.
• To ensure the PSS is a quicker and reliable measure of social participation.

Main Methods:

• A multi-country database of 5125 respondents with various health conditions was compiled.
• Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were employed.
• Statistical measures including Cronbach's alpha and model fit indices (CFI, TLI, RMSEA) were calculated.

Main Results:

• The P-scale Short (PSS) comprises 13 items with a robust two-factor structure: "work-related participation" and "general participation."
• Excellent model fit was observed (CFI=0.983, TLI=0.979, RMSEA=0.061).
• High reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alphas of 0.91 (full scale), 0.83 (work-related), and 0.90 (general participation). The PSS highly correlated with the full P-scale (r=0.99).

Conclusions:

• The P-scale demonstrates good validity across diverse languages and cultures.
• The PSS offers a valid and reliable measure for assessing social participation restrictions.
• Further field testing is recommended to confirm PSS validity across varied health conditions and cultural contexts.