Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Childhood coping mechanisms like overcompensation and avoidance develop as survival strategies in adverse environments.
• Understanding these coping styles is crucial for mental health assessment and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory (YRAI).
• To establish the reliability and validity of the YRAI for use in a Turkish-speaking population.

Main Methods:

• Principal component and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted on a sample of 1,555 participants.
• Parallel analysis determined the optimal factor structure, resulting in an eight-factor, 30-item Turkish YRAI.
• Reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and convergent validity (correlations with established scales) were assessed.

Main Results:

• The Turkish YRAI demonstrated acceptable internal consistency coefficients.
• Correlational analyses indicated statistically significant coefficients, supporting convergent validity.
• The final Turkish YRAI consists of 30 items across eight factors.

Conclusions:

• The Turkish version of the Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory possesses acceptable reliability and validity.
• The YRAI is a suitable instrument for assessing avoidance coping styles in Turkish clinical and research settings.
• This validated tool can contribute to a better understanding of psychological distress and maladaptive coping in Turkey.