Society's Recognition Matters: Psychometric Properties of the Italian Adaptation of the Societal Mattering Scale for Adults

Despite the importance of mattering in predicting well-being, research has largely focused on its interpersonal aspect, neglecting the societal dimension. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of the societal mattering scale (SMS) among adults. Two studies assessed its validity, reliability and invariance across gender and age. Study 1 (N = 204) employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the scale's structure, along with structural equation modelling (SEM) to assess its associations with interpersonal mattering and well-being. Study 2 (N = 561) used SEM to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the unidimensional structure and to test the scale's invariance. Both EFA and CFA revealed a unifactorial structure of the scale. Results supported both convergent and incremental validity. Furthermore, findings confirmed invariance across gender and age. The scale showed good reliability. The Italian SMS adaptation seems promising for assessing societal mattering, making it potentially useful for both research and interventions aimed at understanding and enhancing societal mattering within communities.