The psychometric parameters of the Spanish Form of the Arabic Obsessive Compulsive Scale (S-AOCS)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the psychometric properties of the Spanish version ofthe Arabic Obsessive Compulsive Scale (S-AOCS). The original scale was first translated into Spanish by language experts using the back translation procedure, and then administered to a total of 312 Spanish university students from Barcelona. Four-week test-retest was 0.88 indicating its high temporal stability. Cronbach's alpha value of the S-AOCS reached 0.82 indicating its good internal consistency. The S-AOCS correlated 0.72 with the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory and 0.56 with the Kuwait University. Anxiety Scale indicating good criterion-related validity. Finally, a principal axis analysis with Oblimin rotation was carried out. Five factors were extracted, accounting for 37.88% of the total variance. These factors were labeled: Obsessive thoughts and rumination (16.61%), Meticulousness and perfectionism (6.48%), Indecision and doubts (5.59%), Ritualism (4.74%) and Checking (4.45%). The results indicate that the S-AOCS administered to this Spanish sample yields good internal consistency, temporal stability, criterion-related validity and a five-factor structure reflecting important features of obsessive compulsive disorder. In general, the S-AOCS could be recommended in research on obsession-compulsion among Spanish college students.