Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Impact of Event Scale – 6
Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the IES – 6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63175/tjts.6Keywords:
earthquakes, psychometrics, post-traumatic stress disorder, Impact of Event Scale, short versionAbstract
Background: Natural disasters, such as the earthquake that occurred in Turkey on February 6, 2023, can lead to significant psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Impact of Event Scale – 6 (IES-6), a short version of the revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R), is a tool that has been validated in various populations for assessing PTSD symptoms following traumatic events. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the IES-6 following the Kahramanmaraş earthquake.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 earthquake survivors and 220 controls. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the IES-6 scale. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, while validity was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Participants' responses were analyzed to assess the scale’s internal consistency and factor structure.
Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Turkish IES-6 exhibited a unidimensional structure in both groups. Confirmatory factor analysis, after adjusting for error covariances, confirmed that the one-factor model had acceptable fit indices. The obtained Cronbach’s alpha value indicated strong internal consistency. The total scores of the scale showed a high correlation between the groups (r = 0.90, p < .001).
Conclusion: The Turkish version of the IES-6 demonstrates strong psychometric properties, including valid factor structure and high reliability, making it an effective tool for assessing PTSD symptoms in populations affected by natural disasters. Future longitudinal studies examining the long-term psychological effects of trauma could contribute to a better understanding of trauma’s impacts.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Cansu Ünsal, Büşra Kök, Bülent Aykutoğlu
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We are excited to announce the release of the inaugural issue of the Turkish Journal of Traumatic Stress. As a platform dedicated to advancing research and discussions on trauma-related stress, this first issue brings together insightful articles, reviews, and studies from experts in the field. We invite scholars, practitioners, and researchers to explore the diverse contributions and engage with the emerging knowledge in trauma care and intervention.
