Assessing Internalized Beliefs: Psychometric Evidences for the Pathogenic Belief Scale in Turkish Culture

This study was conducted to test the reliability and validity of the Pathogenic Belief Scale (PBS) on adult individuals. Participants consisted of 299 adults, including 189 (63.2%) females and 110 (36.8%) males, with a mean age of 21.16 years (SD = 3.68). Personal Information Form, Pathogenic Belief Scale-R, Cognitive Distortions Scale, and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale were used as data collection tools. The three-dimensional structure of the PBS was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis on the Turkish sample (χ² = 204.990, df = 186, χ²/df = 1.102, comparative fit index = 0.997, normed fit index = 0.997, standardized root mean square residual = .058, and root-mean-square error of approximation = .019 (90% confidence interval [.001, .032]). Factor loadings were found to be between .470 and .761. The analyses also showed that the internal consistency reliability coefficients were at a quite good level for the undeserving dimension (α = .874, ω = 0.875), the cannot rely on others dimension (α = 0.794, ω = 0.799), and the interpersonal guilt dimension (α = .847, ω = 0.857). The Turkish version of the PBS is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to evaluate the pathogenic beliefs of individuals. The research results were discussed, and certain inferences were made for the future in line with the limitations.