What does this research mean for the field?

The 15-item Vicarious War Trauma Scale (VWTS) is a valid and reliable multidimensional instrument for assessing psychological distress arising from indirect exposure to war-related suffering. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Vicarious War Trauma Scale for assessing psychological distress from indirect exposure to war.

September 15, 2026Psychiatry InternationalOpen Access

Development and Validation of the Vicarious War Trauma Scale for the Pakistani Population

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SGSaba Ghayas AAAyesha Abdullah SVSimone Varrasi

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-sectional validation study demonstrates a four-factor structure for the Vicarious War Trauma Scale in a Pakistani cohort, highlighting its utility for measuring indirect conflict distress.

Key Points

To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Vicarious War Trauma Scale for assessing psychological distress from indirect exposure to war.
Employed a three-phase cross-sectional design in Pakistan, beginning with literature review, interviews, and expert item refinement.
Conducted exploratory factor analysis using maximum likelihood extraction with Promax rotation in an initial sample (N = 311).
Performed confirmatory factor analysis in an independent validation sample (N = 200) and assessed construct validity against established psychological measures.
Exploratory factor analysis produced a 15-item scale comprising four factors (Shaky Beliefs, Empathic Distress, Hopelessness, Anxiety) explaining 48.48% of total variance.
A revised second-order confirmatory factor analysis model demonstrated acceptable fit: χ²(84) = 162.83, χ²/df = 1.94, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.92, and RMSEA = 0.07.
Total scale scores correlated positively with intolerance of uncertainty, empathy, depression, stress, and anxiety, and correlated negatively with resilience.

Cite This Study

Ghayas et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa913ba9013453be30a1deb https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint7050208

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

September 15, 2026Psychiatry InternationalOpen Access

Development and Validation of the Vicarious War Trauma Scale for the Pakistani Population

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SGSaba Ghayas AAAyesha Abdullah SVSimone Varrasi

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-sectional validation study demonstrates a four-factor structure for the Vicarious War Trauma Scale in a Pakistani cohort, highlighting its utility for measuring indirect conflict distress.

Key Points

To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Vicarious War Trauma Scale for assessing psychological distress from indirect exposure to war.
Employed a three-phase cross-sectional design in Pakistan, beginning with literature review, interviews, and expert item refinement.
Conducted exploratory factor analysis using maximum likelihood extraction with Promax rotation in an initial sample (N = 311).
Performed confirmatory factor analysis in an independent validation sample (N = 200) and assessed construct validity against established psychological measures.
Exploratory factor analysis produced a 15-item scale comprising four factors (Shaky Beliefs, Empathic Distress, Hopelessness, Anxiety) explaining 48.48% of total variance.
A revised second-order confirmatory factor analysis model demonstrated acceptable fit: χ²(84) = 162.83, χ²/df = 1.94, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.92, and RMSEA = 0.07.
Total scale scores correlated positively with intolerance of uncertainty, empathy, depression, stress, and anxiety, and correlated negatively with resilience.

Cite This Study

Ghayas et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa913ba9013453be30a1deb https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint7050208

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark