Psychometric properties of an adapted working alliance scale among Latinos

TL;DR

A modified version of a working alliance scale was tested among Latinos and found to be reliable and valid for use in non-traditional therapy settings.

Contribution

The study adapts and validates a working alliance scale for use in culturally tailored smoking cessation programs for Latinos.

Findings

The 10-item WASCOP Scale showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.91).

Factor analysis supported a two-factor structure of the WASCOP Scale.

WASCOP scores were moderately correlated with program satisfaction and weakly with self-efficacy.

Abstract

To assess the psychometric properties (i.e., internal consistency reliability, factorial validity, concurrent validity, and discriminant validity) of the Working Alliance with Smoking Cessation Program (WASCOP) Scale, an adapted scale of working alliance designed for “non-traditional” therapeutic settings.

This was a secondary data analysis of the Month 3 follow-up data from Decídetexto, a randomized clinical trial assessing the efficacy of a culturally accommodated mobile smoking cessation intervention among Latinos. The sample included 374 participants who completed at least 10 of the 12 WASCOP items. Analyses included Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and Spearman’s correlations with study satisfaction and smoking self-efficacy.

Following the removal of two negatively worded items, the 10-item WASCOP Scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.91). Factor analysis supported a two-factor structure. WASCOP scores were moderately correlated with program satisfaction (r = 0.530) and weakly with self-efficacy (r = 0.318), supporting construct and discriminant validity.

The 10-item WASCOP Scale possesses acceptable internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and concurrent validity among Latinos. These findings support it potential applications in both research and clinical settings.