Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Dissociative Symptoms Scale-Brief Across Five Arab Countries.
Rizk, Anthony Ibrahim, Adella Malaeb, Diana Ali, Amira M Fawaz, Mirna El Said, Nouran Omar Merdad, Nisma Amin, Rizwana Saeed, Wizra Barakat, Muna
Rizk, Anthony
Ibrahim, Adella
Malaeb, Diana
Ali, Amira M
Fawaz, Mirna
El Said, Nouran Omar
Merdad, Nisma
Amin, Rizwana
Saeed, Wizra
Barakat, Muna
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2025-09-18
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Abstract
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.
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.
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 ( = 0.93; = 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 ( = 0.57), irritability ( = 0.51), and loneliness ( = 0.45), confirming concurrent validity, while discriminant validity was also established.
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.
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.
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 ( = 0.93; = 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 ( = 0.57), irritability ( = 0.51), and loneliness ( = 0.45), confirming concurrent validity, while discriminant validity was also established.
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.
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© 2025 The Author(s). Public Health Challenges published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.