Cultural Adaption and Psychometric Analysis of Family APGAR Scale in Iranian Older People

Overview

Journal Korean J Fam Med

Specialty Public Health

Date 2022 Mar 23

PMID 35320900

Authors

Zeinab Karimi

Zahra Taheri-Kharameh

Fatemeh Sharififard

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Family function is a necessary factor that influences older people's health. The Family APGAR has been widely used to study family functions. However, there has been no Persian version of this instrument to assess family function in older people. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Family APGAR Scale to evaluate the perception of family functions.

Methods: The "forward-backward" procedure was applied to translate the scale from English into Persian. The translated version was checked in terms of validity and reliability, with a sample of 281 older people selected from retirement centers. The factor structure of the scale was also tested using a confirmatory factor analysis. To test reliability, internal consistency and test-retest analyses were performed.

Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good structural model. Criterion-related validity was strongly supported by the pattern of association between the APGAR Scale and the social support survey. Cronbach's α of the scale was 0.88 and test-retest reliability ranged from 0.96 to 0.98, indicating a good range of reliability.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the Iranian version of the Family APGAR is a valid and reliable scale to evaluate family functions in health intervention programs.

Citing Articles

Advance care planning readiness among older adults in aged service centers: A cross-sectional study.

Wong K, Yuan H, Tee S, Cheong S Int J Nurs Sci. 2025; 12(1):59-64.

PMID: 39990983 PMC: 11846591. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2024.12.005.

Protective and Risk Factors Contributing to Pandemic Crisis Parental Burnout.

Szalachowski R, Tuszynska-Bogucka W, Bogucki J J Clin Med. 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 39860623 PMC: 11766127. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14020617.

Psychosocial distress in people with overweight and obesity: the role of weight stigma and social support.

Timkova V, Mikula P, Nagyova I Front Psychol. 2025; 15():1474844.

PMID: 39845561 PMC: 11753229. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1474844.

Association between functional capacity and family functionality with frailty in older adults with cardiovascular risk in southwestern Colombia.

Paz C, Ledezma B, Rivera D, Salazar M, Torres M, Patino F Biomedica. 2024; 44(4):537-551.

PMID: 39531546 PMC: 11781602. DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.7473.

Psychometric adequacy of the persian adapted version of the tilburg frailty indicator (P-TFI).

Safarnavadeh M, Salehi L BMC Geriatr. 2024; 24(1):623.

PMID: 39034390 PMC: 11265109. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05161-4.

References

Smilkstein G, Ashworth C, Montano D . Validity and reliability of the family APGAR as a test of family function. J Fam Pract. 1982; 15(2):303-11. View

Preechawong S, Zauszniewski J, Heinzer M, Musil C, Kercsmar C, Aswinanonh R . Relationships of family functioning, self-esteem, and resourceful coping of Thai adolescents with asthma. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2006; 28(1):21-36. DOI: 10.1080/01612840600996208. View

Takenaka H, Ban N . The most important question in family approach: the potential of the resolve item of the family APGAR in family medicine. Asia Pac Fam Med. 2016; 15:3. PMC: 4858843. DOI: 10.1186/s12930-016-0028-9. View

Tsai S, Sun W . Evaluating the satisfaction of immigrant women from a rural community regarding family functioning and health-related quality of life. Women Health. 2013; 53(2):135-53. DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2013.767302. View

Cadenas-Salazar R, Villarreal-Rios E, Vargas-Daza E, Martinez-Gonzalez L, Galicia-Rodriguez L . [Relationship between functional social support and vital satisfaction in the elderly]. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2010; 47(3):311-4. View

Sprusinska E . The Family APGAR Index: study on relationship between family function, social support, global stress and mental health perception in women. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 1994; 7(1):23-32. View

Cha K, Lee H . The effects of ego-resilience, social support, and depression on suicidal ideation among the elderly in South Korea. J Women Aging. 2017; 30(5):444-459. DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2017.1313023. View

Wang M, Huang Y . Evaluating family function in caring for a geriatric group: Family APGAR applied for older adults by home care nurses. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2015; 16(6):716-21. DOI: 10.1111/ggi.12544. View

Aaronson N, Acquadro C, Alonso J, Apolone G, Bucquet D, Bullinger M . International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project. Qual Life Res. 1992; 1(5):349-51. DOI: 10.1007/BF00434949. View

10.

Sherbourne C, Stewart A . The MOS social support survey. Soc Sci Med. 1991; 32(6):705-14. DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(91)90150-b. View

11.

Richmond C . The social determinants of Inuit health: a focus on social support in the Canadian Arctic. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010; 68(5):471-87. DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v68i5.17383. View

12.

Kelly M, Duff H, Kelly S, McHugh Power J, Brennan S, Lawlor B . The impact of social activities, social networks, social support and social relationships on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: a systematic review. Syst Rev. 2017; 6(1):259. PMC: 5735742. DOI: 10.1186/s13643-017-0632-2. View

13.

Chokkanathan S . Stressors social support and elder mistreatment. Aging Ment Health. 2015; 21(2):125-132. DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1081151. View

14.

Santos A, Pavarini S . [Family functionality regarding the elderly with cognitive impairments: the caretaker's perception]. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2012; 46(5):1141-7. DOI: 10.1590/s0080-62342012000500015. View