Passive Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Attitude Scale: A Scale Development Study in High School Students

Measuring adolescents' attitudes toward passive exposure to tobacco smoke is crucial due to its negative effects on their health. This methodological study aimed to develop a reliable and valid instrument for assessing high school students' attitudes toward passive exposure to tobacco smoke.

The research sample consisted of 1,000 students enrolled in seven different high schools. The "Descriptive Information Form" and the "Passive Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Attitude Scale" were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, content validity index, correlation analysis, Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were applied.

The content validity index of the scale was determined to be 0.94. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure for exploratory factor analysis was calculated as 0.929, and Bartlett's test of sphericity yielded significant results. A three-factor structure was identified, with factor loadings ranging from 0.636 to 0.802, accounting for 58.728% of the total variance. Fit indices were as follows: χ²/df=2.33, Comparative Fit Index=0.96, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.05, Goodness of Fit Index=0.94, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index=0.92, and Root Mean Square Residual=0.06. Additional fit indices included Normed Fit Index=0.93, Tucker-Lewis Index=0.95, and Incremental Fit Index=0.96. Cronbach's alpha coefficient values were 0.903 for the Attitude Toward Smoke Exposure sub-dimension, 0.710 for the Attitude Toward Passive Exposure With Friends sub-dimension, 0.693 for the Attitude Toward Passive Exposure in Open Spaces sub-dimension, and 0.906 for the entire scale. The test-retest result was 0.926.

The Passive Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Attitude Scale was determined to be a reliable and valid measurement tool with a 16-item, three-factor structure.