Translating and validating the Ghosting Questionnaire into Arabic: results from classical test theory and item response theory analyses: Short title: the arabic version of the Ghosting QuestionnaireShow others and affiliations
2024 (English)In: BMC Psychology, E-ISSN 2050-7283, Vol. 12, no 1, article id 599
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background: Ghosting refers to the sudden cessation of communication in interpersonal relationships. Ghosting has gained attention as a phenomenon commonly encountered in the context of digital communication. Earlier studies on ghosting mostly focused on Western societies while, in Arab societies, research into this practice has yet to be initiated. The current study aimed to address this gap by translating and validating the commonly used Ghosting Questionnaire (GHOST) into Arabic. Methods: The translation process involved forward and back translation, expert review, and pilot testing to ensure linguistic and cultural equivalence. A convenience sample of 607 participants from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Tunisia completed the Arabic version of the GHOST. Statistical analyses, including reliability testing and confirmatory factor analysis, were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the instrument. Results: The Arabic version of the GHOST demonstrated high reliability. The Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.87) and McDonald’s omega (ω = 0.87) coefficients indicated strong internal consistency. Test-retest reliability coefficients confirmed the stability of the responses over time (ICC 0.89, p < 0.001). CFA supported a single-factor structure in alignment with the conceptual framework of the original English version. Conclusions: The successful translation and validation of the GHOST into Arabic provide researchers with a reliable tool for investigating ghosting behavior within Arab societies. Future research endeavors can build upon these findings to explore the psychological implications of ghosting. Researchers can now also develop culturally sensitive understanding of online dating and related practices in Arab communities.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BioMed Central (BMC), 2024. Vol. 12, no 1, article id 599
Keywords [en]
Arabic, Assessment, Ghosting, Psychometrics, Scale, Adolescent, Adult, Arabs, Communication, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Reproducibility of Results, Surveys and Questionnaires, Translating, Translations, Young Adult, article, Bahrain, conceptual framework, confirmatory factor analysis, convenience sample, Cronbach alpha coefficient, diagnosis, Egypt, human, human relation, internal consistency, Oman, online dating, psychometry, questionnaire, reliability, test retest reliability, Tunisia, Arab, factor analysis, interpersonal communication, psychology, publication, reproducibility, translating (language)
National Category
Psychiatry Sociology (Excluding Social Work, Social Anthropology, Demography and Criminology)
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-66598DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-02107-8ISI: 001345729200002PubMedID: 39473001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85208163046Local ID: GOA;intsam;982672OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-66598DiVA, id: diva2:1912055
2024-11-112024-11-112025-10-13Bibliographically approved