Development and validation of an Arabic-language Family Stability Scale for women in Saudi Arabia

Family stability is a key determinant of psychological well-being; however, culturally adapted and psychometrically robust assessment tools are lacking in the Arabic context. This study aimed to develop and validate the Family Stability Scale (FSS) for Saudi women, addressing a critical measurement gap in the region.

A cross-sectional psychometric validation study was conducted between January and June 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Women aged 18 years or older were recruited from different provinces in Saudi Arabia. The newly developed 15-item FSS, along with the Arabic versions of the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), was self-administered. Content validity was analysed via expert panel review and pilot testing. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Criterion and incremental validity were assessed via correlation and hierarchical regression analyses. Reliability was evaluated through Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability.

A total of 501 women participated, with 89.8% providing complete data. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a clear unidimensional structure, with good model fit (CFI = 0.917, TLI = 0.903, SRMR = 0.042). The FSS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.932) and strong split-half reliability (Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.904). The FSS exhibited significant negative correlations with anxiety (r = -0.48) and depression (r = -0.50), indicating strong criterion validity. The scale accounted for an additional 23% of variance in anxiety symptoms and 24% in depressive symptoms beyond demographic variables, supporting its incremental validity.

The FSS is a psychometrically sound, reliable, and valid Arabic instrument for assessing perceived family stability among Saudi women. It fills an important gap for clinical and research applications by enabling comprehensive evaluation of family functioning within the Saudi context.