Developmental Crisis Questionnaire (DCQ-12): psychometric characteristics of the Czech version among adult...

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Developmental Crisis Questionnaire (DCQ-12), assessing its internal consistency, factor structure, and associations with psychosocial variables such as self-esteem, social support, life satisfaction, negative emotionality, and perceived stress.

The sample included 761 participants aged 19-59 years, primarily women (68.4%), recruited online. DCQ-12, along with measures for self-esteem, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, perceived stress, and negative emotionality, was administered. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and McDonald's omega were employed to evaluate the questionnaire's structure and reliability. Age and gender differences were assessed through two-way ANOVA.

DCQ-12 demonstrated high internal consistency (ω = .89 for the total scale), though one subscale (Transition and Turning Point) showed lower reliability (ω = .63). A three-factor model with minor modifications exhibited good fit (CFI = .956, RMSEA = .068). DCQ-12 correlated positively with stress and negative emotionality, and negatively with self-esteem, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, social support, and meaning in life. Developmental crisis was more prevalent among younger adults and women. Crisis prevalence declined with age and varied by gender, with notable differences observed in younger and middle adulthood.

The Czech version of DCQ-12 is a reliable tool for assessing developmental crisis across adulthood. The current findings align with existing literature on psychosocial predictors of crisis. Future studies should explore the utility of DCQ-12 in diverse age groups and cultural contexts.