Development and validation of Psychological Reactance Scale for married women of Pakistan

Amna Saif, Saba Ghayas, Amina Obaid Khawaja, Adnan Adil, Sadia Niazi, Anam Khan, Anam Yousaf

Accepted August 31, 2021

First published August 31, 2021

Abstract

Psychological reactance, an emotional reaction of distress in response to threatened freedom, is an important construct that influences the mental health of married women. The current study was carried out to develop a valid and reliable measure of psychological reactance for married women living in collectivistic cultures such as the Pakistani culture. Item pool was generated through expert opinion, literature review and semistructured interviews with married women. In order to explore the factor structure, exploratory factor analysis was carried out on a sample of women (N = 566). Results revealed a two factors structure comprising Internal Expression (cognitive-emotional domain) and External Expression (aggressive-behavioral domain). Alpha values of scale (a = .90) and Internal Expression (a = .81) and External Expression factor (a = .81) provided evidence of the excellent reliability of Psychological Reactance Scale. In order to confirm the factor structure, confirmatory factor analysis was carried out on an independent sample of married women (N = 150). Confirmatory factor analysis provided excellent model fit indices (CFI = .93, RMR = .04) for the two factors structure obtained through EFA. Convergent validity of the Psychological Reactance Scale was ascertained through its correlation with Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. Practical implications of the study are discussed.

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Saif Amna. Ghayas Saba. Obaid Khawaja Amina. Adil Adnan. Niazi Sadia. Khan Anam. Yousaf Anam. Development and validation of Psychological Reactance Scale for married women of Pakistan. BPA Applied Psychology Bulletin. 2021;291(1):50-62.

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Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Publication Title. Year Published;Volume number(Issue number):Pages Used. doi:DOI Number.


Saif Amna. Ghayas Saba. Obaid Khawaja Amina. Adil Adnan. Niazi Sadia. Khan Anam. Yousaf Anam. Development and validation of Psychological Reactance Scale for married women of Pakistan. BPA Applied Psychology Bulletin. 2021;291(1):50-62.