Turkish Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the of the Transgender Congruence Scale
Description
This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate a Turkish version of the The Transgender Congruence Scale (TCS) among transgender and gender-diverse adults in Türkiye. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 111 participants aged 18–45 years (73% trans men, 9% trans women, 18% non-binary). Translation followed forward–back translation, expert review, and pilot testing. Construct validity was examined via EFA and CFA; reliability via Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω, and four-week test–retest. Criterion validity used correlations with the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), and Body Image Scale (BIS). Research Hypotheses H1: The Turkish version of the Transgender Congruence Scale (TCS) will demonstrate a two-factor structure consistent with the original scale, comprising Appearance Congruence and Gender Identity Congruence. H2: There will be a significant positive correlation between total TCS scores and psychological well-being, as measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), supporting criterion-related validity. H3: There will be a significant positive correlation between total TCS scores and body appreciation, as measured by the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS). H4: There will be a significant positive correlation between total TCS scores and body image, as measured by the Body Image Scale (BIS). H5: There will be significant differences between upper and lower 27% groups, with higher scores observed in the upper group. H6: The Turkish version of the TCS will demonstrate high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient equal to or greater than 0.70. H7: There will be no statistically significant difference between TCS scores obtained at two time points, indicating temporal stability (test–retest reliability). H8: The TCS items will exhibit acceptable item-total correlation coefficients, indicating satisfactory item discrimination. H9: There will be a statistically significant difference in transgender congruence scores between binary transgenders (trans men and trans women) and non-binary individuals. In conclusion, the Turkish TCS demonstrated good overall reliability (α = .885) and a two-factor structure consistent with the original. While the AC subscale showed excellent internal consistency (α = .915), the GIA subscale exhibited limited reliability (α = .426; ω = .563), as expected for a two-item measure. Despite this, the total scale proved valid, reliable, and functionally robust in predicting well-being across groups. The Turkish TCS therefore represents a brief, efficient, and trans-affirmative measure of gender congruence, offering researchers and clinicians a valuable tool to assess gender identity processes and support equitable healthcare for gender-diverse populations.
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Steps to reproduce
The study followed CHERRIES online-survey reporting guidelines (Eysenbach, 2012). Criteria to participate in the study included: (1) informed consent to participate; (2) age 18 or older; (3) being fluent in Turkish; (4) identifying as a trans man, trans woman, gender questioning, genderfluid, or non-binary. Translation Translation followed ISPOR and European Social Survey guidelines: Forward Translation: Seven bilingual subject-matter experts independently translated the 12 TCS items into Turkish. Reconciliation: The research team reviewed translations for conceptual and linguistic equivalence. Back Translation: Three linguists, blind to the original, translated the reconciled version back into English. Expert Review (Adjudication): A bilingual psychologist reviewed all items for clarity, cultural relevance, and inclusiveness of gender-diverse expressions. Content validity was evaluated by five experts using the Davis technique; I-CVI values ranged from .83 to 1.00 and S-CVI/Ave = .91, indicating satisfactory agreement. Pilot Testing: The prefinal Turkish version was administered to 10 participants from the target population. Feedback on clarity and sensitivity led to minor revisions.Pilot data were excluded from the main analysis. Data Analysis Preliminary Analyses: Descriptive statistics, normality (Shapiro–Wilk), and outlier detection (z > ±3.29) were examined. Skewness and kurtosis values between ±2 were accepted as normal. Content Validity: Expert evaluations were quantified via CVI; items below .80 were revised or removed. Construct Validity: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) used principal axis factoring with oblimin rotation. Sampling adequacy was verified by KMO and Bartlett’s test. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) evaluated the two-factor structure using maximum likelihood estimation. Model fit indices were interpreted as: χ²/df ≤ 3, RMSEA ≤ .08 (90% CI), SRMR ≤ .08, CFI and TLI ≥ .90, and GFI/AGFI ≥ .85 (Hu & Bentler, 1999). Comparative indices (AIC, BIC) guided model selection; lower values indicated better fit. Reliability:Internal consistency was estimated via Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω (≥ .70 acceptable). Test–retest reliability was evaluated with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients [ICC(2,1)] over a 4-week interval among 22 participants. Item discrimination was assessed by corrected item–total correlations (r ≥ .30) and upper vs. lower 27% group comparisons (Mann–Whitney U test). Criterion Validity: Spearman correlations examined associations between TCS and WEMWBS, BAS, and BIS. Measurement Invariance and Group Differences: Multi-group CFA tested configural, metric, and scalar invariance between binary and non-binary groups (ΔCFI ≤ .01, ΔRMSEA ≤ .015 indicating invariance). Group mean differences were tested with Mann–Whitney U and effect sizes (r = |Z|/√N). Moderation Analysis: Hierarchical regression assessed whether gender identity moderated the relationship between TCS and well-being.
Institutions
- Koc Universitesi
- Ege Universitesi