# Intercultural Scale on Conceptions of Disability: a cross-cultural validation

## TL;DR

This study validates a scale measuring how disability is perceived across biological, social, and metaphysical dimensions in Brazil, Portugal, and Spain.

## Contribution

The study confirms the cross-cultural validity and measurement invariance of the Intercultural Scale on Conceptions of Disability.

## Key findings

- The ISCD's three-factor structure showed a good fit across all three countries.
- Measurement invariance was confirmed, indicating consistent parameter performance.
- Significant differences in disability conceptions were found between the countries.

## Abstract

Our study investigates the cross-cultural validation of the Intercultural Scale on Conceptions of Disability (ISCD), which measures how disability is perceived across three dimensions: biological, social, and metaphysical.

The research involved 5,544 undergraduate and graduate students from Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the scale’s three-factor structure in each country. Measurement invariance was also tested to ensure that the scale measures conceptions of disability equivalently across all cultural contexts.

The dates showed that the ISCD's three-factor structure demonstrated a good fit in all locations, confirming the multidimensional nature of disability conceptions. Additionally, measurement invariance was established, indicating that the instrument's parameters were consistent across countries. Significant differences were found between countries in all three conceptions. The study also provides normative data for interpreting the ISCD scores, which is crucial for future research and applications in diverse contexts.

The findings suggest that the ISCD is a valid instrument for assessing disability conceptions across different cultures, offering valuable insights for developing inclusive policies and interventions that consider the social and cultural dimensions of disability.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41155-026-00379-0.