ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND VALIDATION OF SPOUSAL SELFDISCLOSURE SCALE

Abstract

This goal of this study is to translate and validate the Spousal Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) from
Turkish to English, originally developed by Ceg & Yildrim (2017). The Spousal Self-Disclosure
scale is a crucial instrument for assessing the dynamics of self-disclosure among married couples,
which is essential for understanding marital relationships. The translation process was conducted by
the Department of Turkish Studies at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML),
employing both forward and backward translation techniques to ensure linguistic accuracy and
conceptual integrity. The translated scale was administered to a sample of 400 married individuals,
allowing for a robust analysis of its psychometric properties. To confirm the scale's factor structure,
confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed. The CFA results indicated a satisfactory fit for
the hypothesized model, confirming that the translated SSDS retains its original dimensionality and
effectively measures the intended constructs of spousal self-disclosure. Reliability assessments
demonstrated high internal consistency across all factors, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients
exceeding the acceptable threshold of .87, indicating that the scale is reliable for use in Englishspeaking
populations. Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity were established through
correlations with established measures of marital satisfaction and communication styles, further
supporting the scale's validity. In conclusion, this study successfully translated and validated the
Spousal Self-Disclosure Scale for English-speaking populations, providing a valuable tool for
researchers and practitioners interested in exploring marital dynamics across cultures.