# Developing and identifying the psychometric properties of empty nest syndrome SCALE

## TL;DR

This paper develops a reliable and valid scale to measure Empty Nest Syndrome, which helps healthcare providers understand and address the emotional impact of children leaving home.

## Contribution

The study introduces a newly developed and psychometrically validated scale for Empty Nest Syndrome.

## Key findings

- A 37-item scale was developed with five factors confirmed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
- The scale demonstrated strong validity and reliability with Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients.
- The instrument is suitable for clinical use due to its ease of scoring and psychometric robustness.

## Abstract

The parents’ reaction to children leaving home is called Empty Nest Syndrome. Given this syndrome’s cultural nature, this research aims to design and determine the psychometric properties of a scale to measure it based on its multiple stages.

In this methodological study, Waltz’s (2010) four-phase approach was utilized to design the instrument for measuring ENS. The psychometric process involved determining the instrument’s validity and reliability. The face and the content validity were assessed; then, for construct validity, 550 eligible participants were involved. The data was analyzed using SPSS22 and AMOS24 software. Internal consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha in two phases, and McDonald’s omega coefficient was calculated. To assess reliability (test-retest and ICC), 50 participants were involved in a two-week interval.

In the initial phase, 309 items were extracted using a five-point Likert scale. The psychometric phases calculated item impact scores ranging from 1.28 to 5, CVR from 0.47 to 0.87, and CVI from 0.68 to 1. The KMO (0.939) indicated sample adequacy, and Bartlett’s test showed a model fit for factor analysis. The EFA revealed five factors, reducing the item count to 37. After naming the factors, CFA examined relationships between observed and latent variables. The results confirmed the convergent and divergent validity of the scale.

Based on its stages, the ENS scale contributes to understanding the syndrome among healthcare providers, enabling precise diagnosis and prevention of related issues. The scale possesses all the characteristics of a standard instrument, with adequate validity, reliability, and ease of scoring.