Loading...
Psychometric Properties of the Arabic DissociativeSymptoms Scale—Brief Across Five Arab Countries
Rizk, Anthony Ibrahim, Adella Malaeb, Diana Ali, Amira M. Fawaz, Mirna El Said, Nouran Omar Barakat, Muna
Rizk, Anthony
Ibrahim, Adella
Malaeb, Diana
Ali, Amira M.
Fawaz, Mirna
El Said, Nouran Omar
Barakat, Muna
Type
Supervisor
Subject
Date
2025-09-18
Collections
Files
Loading...
Public Health Challenges - 2025 - Rizk - Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Dissociative Symptoms Scale Brief Across.pdf
Adobe PDF, 475.39 KB
Loading...
Public Health Challenges - 2025 - Rizk - Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Dissociative Symptoms Scale Brief Across.pdf
Adobe PDF, 475.39 KB
Loading...
Public Health Challenges - 2025 - Rizk - Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Dissociative Symptoms Scale Brief Across.pdf
Adobe PDF, 475.39 KB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Background
Dissociation, involving disruptions in cognition, perception, and identity, is closely linked to trauma and various psychiatric disorders but remains underrecognized, especially in non-Western contexts. Although tools like the Dissociative Symptoms Scale—Brief (DSS—B) have improved assessment, validated Arabic-language versions are lacking. Given rising mental health concerns and limited resources in the Arab world, this study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic-translated DSS—B to support culturally appropriate diagnosis and research on dissociation.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, participants from KSA, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan were recruited via snowball sampling and completed an online survey. The DSS—B was translated into Arabic using a forward-backward method and reviewed by experts for cultural and semantic accuracy. Participants also completed validated Arabic versions of the Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and the Brief Irritability Test.
Results
Among 1494 participants (mean age = 24.97; 74.5% female), Palestinians showed the highest dissociative symptoms. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed good model fit, excellent reliability (ω = 0.93; α = 0.92), and strong convergent validity average variance extracted (AVE = 0.70). Measurement invariance across genders and countries was supported, with no significant gender differences in scores. Dissociation was positively correlated with depression-anxiety (r = 0.57), irritability (r = 0.51), and loneliness (r = 0.45), confirming concurrent validity, while discriminant validity was also established.
Conclusion
This study validates the Arabic DSS—B as a reliable, valid, and culturally adaptable tool for assessing dissociation in Arab populations, reinforcing its clinical and research utility. Future research should explore its generalizability in underrepresented groups, use longitudinal and clinician-based assessments, and investigate neurobiological underpinnings to deepen understanding and application of dissociation measurement globally.