Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Solastalgia Scale (SOS)

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Psychometrics
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Solastalgia describes distress caused by environmental degradation.
• Climate change and urbanization exacerbate solastalgia, making it an interdisciplinary research topic.
• Existing scales require adaptation for diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the Solastalgia Scale (SOS) into Turkish.
• To examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish SOS in a non-clinical adult sample.
• To assess the scale's reliability and validity for use with Turkish-speaking populations.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 434 adults aged 18-65.
• Participants completed the Turkish Solastalgia Scale and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).
• Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and correlation analyses were used to evaluate construct validity, criterion validity, and reliability.

Main Results:

• The original two-dimensional structure of the SOS was confirmed in the Turkish sample.
• High factor loadings were observed for both Solace and Algia dimensions.
• Reliability analyses (Cronbach's Alpha, McDonald's Omega, Guttmann's Lambda) indicated very high reliability for the total scale and sub-dimensions (α=.84, ω=.83, λ=.86 for total).
• A significant positive correlation was found between the SOS and PCL-5, supporting criterion validity.
• No significant gender differences were found in SOS responses.

Conclusions:

• The Turkish version of the Solastalgia Scale (SOS) is a reliable and valid instrument.
• The adapted scale is suitable for assessing solastalgia in Turkish-speaking adults.
• This validated scale facilitates research on the psychological impacts of environmental change in Turkey.