Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users

Abstract Background As the concept of empowerment is increasingly adopted across various mental health care contexts, there is a growing need for standardized measures to assess the effectiveness of empowerment approaches. The Empowerment Scale is widely utilized and translated within the field of m...

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Main Authors: Saphir Desvignes, Mohamed Boucekine, Sandrine Loubière, Léa Leclerc, Pascal Auquier, Aurélie Tinland
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06554-4
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author Saphir Desvignes
Mohamed Boucekine
Sandrine Loubière
Léa Leclerc
Pascal Auquier
Aurélie Tinland
author_facet Saphir Desvignes
Mohamed Boucekine
Sandrine Loubière
Léa Leclerc
Pascal Auquier
Aurélie Tinland
author_sort Saphir Desvignes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background As the concept of empowerment is increasingly adopted across various mental health care contexts, there is a growing need for standardized measures to assess the effectiveness of empowerment approaches. The Empowerment Scale is widely utilized and translated within the field of mental health, despite its varied psychometric properties. This study aimed to translate the Empowerment Scale into French and assess its internal consistency, validity, and responsiveness. Methods This study was part of a larger research project involving 394 participants. The Empowerment Scale was translated into French following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, with a translation committee consisting of experts and a professional translator. Psychometric properties were assessed using classical test theory. The factor structure was determined through principal component analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha, while validity was evaluated through convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity analyses. Responsiveness was assessed by comparing empowerment scores to changes in recovery rates. Results The factor analyses supported a four-factor, 18-item model, showing good fit indices (CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.07). Internal consistency was acceptable for the overall scale (alpha = 0.84) and the “self-esteem-self-efficacy” dimension (alpha = 0.88) but lower for the other dimensions. The scale demonstrated moderate correlations with recovery (r = 0.47) and quality of life (r = 0.28). The Empowerment Scale demonstrated low or insignificant responsiveness, except for the “self-esteem-self-efficacy” dimension, which showed moderate responsiveness. Conclusions The French version of the Empowerment Scale has a good factor structure with 4 factors and 18 items. The “self-esteem” dimension demonstrates good concurrent validity and reliability, and moderate responsiveness, while other dimensions require additional validation.
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spelling doaj-art-5e03bf922fa8441e978af9cfa42379c02025-08-20T02:59:59ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-03-0125111210.1186/s12888-025-06554-4Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service usersSaphir Desvignes0Mohamed Boucekine1Sandrine Loubière2Léa Leclerc3Pascal Auquier4Aurélie Tinland5CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille UniversityCEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille UniversityCEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Sainte-Marguerite University Hospital, Assistance Publique– Hôpitaux de MarseilleCEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille UniversityCEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille UniversityAbstract Background As the concept of empowerment is increasingly adopted across various mental health care contexts, there is a growing need for standardized measures to assess the effectiveness of empowerment approaches. The Empowerment Scale is widely utilized and translated within the field of mental health, despite its varied psychometric properties. This study aimed to translate the Empowerment Scale into French and assess its internal consistency, validity, and responsiveness. Methods This study was part of a larger research project involving 394 participants. The Empowerment Scale was translated into French following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, with a translation committee consisting of experts and a professional translator. Psychometric properties were assessed using classical test theory. The factor structure was determined through principal component analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha, while validity was evaluated through convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity analyses. Responsiveness was assessed by comparing empowerment scores to changes in recovery rates. Results The factor analyses supported a four-factor, 18-item model, showing good fit indices (CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.07). Internal consistency was acceptable for the overall scale (alpha = 0.84) and the “self-esteem-self-efficacy” dimension (alpha = 0.88) but lower for the other dimensions. The scale demonstrated moderate correlations with recovery (r = 0.47) and quality of life (r = 0.28). The Empowerment Scale demonstrated low or insignificant responsiveness, except for the “self-esteem-self-efficacy” dimension, which showed moderate responsiveness. Conclusions The French version of the Empowerment Scale has a good factor structure with 4 factors and 18 items. The “self-esteem” dimension demonstrates good concurrent validity and reliability, and moderate responsiveness, while other dimensions require additional validation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06554-4EmpowermentMental healthPsychometric propertiesFrench translationValidityReliability
spellingShingle Saphir Desvignes
Mohamed Boucekine
Sandrine Loubière
Léa Leclerc
Pascal Auquier
Aurélie Tinland
Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
BMC Psychiatry
Empowerment
Mental health
Psychometric properties
French translation
Validity
Reliability
title Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
title_full Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
title_fullStr Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
title_full_unstemmed Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
title_short Validation of a French version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
title_sort validation of a french version of the empowerment scale for mental health service users
topic Empowerment
Mental health
Psychometric properties
French translation
Validity
Reliability
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06554-4
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