No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Eight Personal Characteristics Scale Related to Vitality in Disasters: Turkish Validity and Reliability
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 August 2025
Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to validate and ensure the reliability of the Turkish version of the Vitality Questionnaire, which captures traits advantageous for survival, to aid in systematic preparations for future disasters and life challenges.
Method
In this study, the Scale of Eight Personal Characteristics Related to Vitality was translated into Turkish by three language experts, validity and reliability analyses were conducted, and a pilot test was carried out with 30 participants. Subsequently, between February 1 and March 1, 2024, online data were collected from 523 individuals across Turkey who had experienced disasters.
Results
The average age of participants was 24.09 ± 7.60 years; 72.7% (n = 380) were female. Among participants, 79.2% (n = 359) had experienced an earthquake, 65.1% (n = 56) a flood, and 47.4% (n = 9) a fire. Analysis of the Eight Personal Traits Scale showed the original 8-factor structure was retained, with all item factor loadings above 0.40 and an explained variance of 61.180%. Therefore, no items were removed, and the 8-subdimension structure was accepted. Factor loadings ranged between 0.34 and 0.83. Internal consistency, evaluated through split-half reliability, was found to be at an acceptable level.
Conclusion
The analysis and evaluations conducted in this study concluded that the Eight Personal Traits Scale Related to Disaster Vitality is a valid and reliable measurement tool for the Turkish sample in identifying personal traits in the face of disasters.
Information
- Type
- Original Research
- Information
- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc
References
UNDRR
. Disaster. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk ReductionGoogle Scholar
Jiang, Y, Yuan, Y. Emergency logistics in a large-scale disaster context: Achievements and challenges. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar 4;16(5):77910.3390/ijerph16050779CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). EM-DAT in numbers: The International Disaster Database [Internet]. Brussels: Université catholique de Louvain; [cited 2025 June 12]. Available from: https://www.emdat.beGoogle Scholar
Su, Y, Wu, XV, Ogawa, N, Yuki, M, Hu, Y, Yang, Y. Nursing skills required across natural and man-made disasters: A scoping review. J Adv Nurs. Oct 2022;78(10):3141–3158.10.1111/jan.15337CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kim, Y, Kim, MY. Factors affecting household disaster preparedness in South Korea. PLoS One. 2022;17(10):e0275540.10.1371/journal.pone.0275540CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization. Health emergency and disaster risk management framework [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019 [cited 2025 June 12]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/326106.Google Scholar
Altun, F. Economic and social impacts of disasters: An assessment of the example of Turkey. Turk J Soc Work. 2018;2(1):1–15.Google Scholar
Boğaziçi Üniversitesi. Kandilli Rasathanesi ve Deprem Araştırma Enstitüsü [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Sep 24]. Available from: http://www.koeri.boun.edu.tr/sismo/2/deprem-verileri/yillik-deprem-haritalari/Google Scholar
Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı (AFAD) [Internet]. [cited 2025 June 12]. Available from: https://www.afad.gov.tr/Google Scholar
Kukuoğlu, A. Psychological traumas after natural disasters and a sample psychological support education program. Journal of Disaster and Risk. 2018;1(1):39–52.Google Scholar
Güldü, Ö. Determining the relationship between disaster awareness and coping with stressful situations. J Disaster Risk. 2023;6(3):638–658.Google Scholar
Bonanno, GA, Mancini, AD. Beyond resilience and PTSD: Mapping the heterogeneity of responses to potential trauma. Psychol Trauma. 2012;4:74–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Özyer, Y, Dinçer, S. Psychological first-aid roles of nurses in disasters. IBAD J Soc Sci. 2020;7:198–206.Google Scholar
Ruzek, JI, Brymer, MJ, Layne, CM, Vernberg, EM, Watson, PJ. Psychological fisrt aid. J Ment Health Couns. 2007;29:17–49.10.17744/mehc.29.1.5racqxjueafabgwpCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, XY, Wang, D, Liu, X, Shi, X, Scherffius, A, Fan, F. Cumulative stressful events and mental health in young adults after 10 years of Wenchuan earthquake: The role of social support. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2023;14(1):2189399.10.1080/20008066.2023.2189399CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hussaini, SJ, Ali, SH, Syyeda Rahmat, Z, Islam, Z, Tharwani, ZH. Mental health impacts of earthquake on Afghans amidst humanitarian crisis. Ann Med Surg (Lond). Sep 2022;81:104521.Google ScholarPubMed
Keya, TA, Leela, A, Habib, N, Rashid, M, Bakthavatchalam, P. Mental health disorders due to disaster exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cureus. Apr 2023;15(4):e37031.Google ScholarPubMed
Valladares-Garrido, MJ, Zapata-Castro, LE, Domínguez-Troncos, H, García-Vicente, A, León-Figueroa, DA, Zila-Velasque, JP, et al. Mental health disturbance after a major earthquake in northern Peru: a preliminary, cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8357.10.3390/ijerph19148357CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yokoyama, Y, Otsuka, K, Kawakami, N, et al. Mental health and related factors after the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e102497.10.1371/journal.pone.0102497CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Masten, AS. Resilience of children in disasters: A multisystem perspective. Int J Psychol. Feb 2021;56(1):1–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matsuzaki, Y, Ishibashi, R, Yasuda, M, et al. Does the eight-factor “power to live” in disaster exist since childhood? Front Public Health. 2022;10:1022939.10.3389/fpubh.2022.1022939CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sugiura, M, Sato, S, Nouchi, R, et al. Eight personal characteristics associated with the power to live with disasters as indicated by survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake disaster. PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0130349.10.1371/journal.pone.0130349CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Osborne, J, Costello, AB. Best practises in exploratory factor analysis: Four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Pract Assess Res Eval. 2005;10(7):1–9.Google Scholar
Worthington, RL, Whittaker, TA. Scale development research: A content analysis and recommendations for best practices. Couns Psychol. 2006;34(6):806–838.10.1177/0011000006288127CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seçer, İ. Psychological Test Development and Adaptation Process: SPSS and LISREL Applications. Anı Publishing; 2015.Google Scholar
Şencan, H. Reliability and Validity in Social and Behavioral Measurement. Seçkin Publishing; 2005.Google Scholar
Polit, DF, Beck, CT, Owen, SV. Is the CVI an acceptable indicator of content validity? Appraisal and recommendations. Res Nurs Health. Aug 2007;30(4):459–467.10.1002/nur.20199CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rattray, J, Jones, MC. Essential elements of questionnaire design and development. J Clin Nurs. Feb 2007;16(2):234–243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Polit, DF, Beck, CT. Essentials of Nursing Research: Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010.Google Scholar
Kyriazos, T. Applied psychometrics: Sample size and sample power considerations in factor analysis (EFA, CFA) and SEM in general. Psychology. 2018;9:2207–2230.10.4236/psych.2018.98126CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ishibashi, R, Nouchi, R, Honda, A, Abe, T, Sugiura, M. A concise psychometric tool to measure personal characteristics for surviving natural disasters: development of a 16-item power to live questionnaire. Geosciences. 2019;9(9):366.10.3390/geosciences9090366CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu Hakkında Merak Ettikleriniz. https://www.sgk.gov.tr/Hakkimizda/Index/c4953319-ea98-439f-89e0-4b1cdddbed55/Google Scholar
Category: Medicare and Medicaid. https://www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/index.htmlGoogle Scholar
Sugiura, M, Nouchi, R, Honda, A, Sato, S, Abe, T, Imamura, F. Survival-oriented personality factors are associated with various types of social support in an emergency disaster situation. PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0228875.10.1371/journal.pone.0228875CrossRefGoogle Scholar
OECD ve AB Ülkelerinde Sağlık ve Geri Ödeme Sistemleri. https://ekutuphane.csgb.gov.tr/Media/ioxhpno0/oecd-ve-ab-%C3%BClkelerinde-sa%C4%9Flik-ve-geri-%C3%B6deme-sistemleri-ii-belgesi.pdfGoogle Scholar
Diğer, H, Bilgin, R. OECD Ülkelerinde Sağlık Sistemlerinin Sağlık Göstergeleri Açısından Değerlendirilmesi. Int J Innov Approaches Soc Sci. 2021;5:212–235.Google Scholar
DeVellis, RF, Thorpe, CT. Scale Development: Theory and Applications. 5th ed. Sage Publications; 2021.Google Scholar
Johnson, RB, Christensen, LB. Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Approaches. Sage Publications; 2013.Google Scholar
Tabachnick, BG, Fidell, LS, Ullman, JB. Using Multivariate Statistics. 6th ed. Pearson; 2013:497–516.Google Scholar
Özdamar, K. Scale and test development structural equation modeling. Nisan Kitabevi Publishing. 2016;Ankara:6-286.Google Scholar
Kartal, M, Bardakçı, S. Reliability and Validity Analysis with SPSS and AMOS Applied Examples. Akademisyen Publishing; 2018.Google Scholar
Karagöz, Y. SPSS and AMOS 23 Applied Statistical Analysis. Nobel Akademic Publishing; 2016.Google Scholar