Validation and cultural adaptation of the Arabic translation of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism.

BACKGROUND Ageism, defined as stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age, remains a pervasive issue globally, negatively affecting the health and well-being of older adults. The Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA) is a widely used tool to measure ageist attitudes, yet it has not been validated in Arabic-speaking populations.

AIM This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA) among nursing students in Alexandria, Egypt.

METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 471 nursing students at the Technical Institute of Nursing, Alexandria University. The FSA was translated using the forward-backward translation method and evaluated for content validity, internal consistency, and concurrent validity. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

RESULTS The Arabic FSA showed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.822). Content validity was acceptable (CVI = 0.89). Eight items were removed from the original scale to enhance validity. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor model, and confirmatory factor analysis supported this model with satisfactory fit indices (SRMR = 0.042 and RMSEA = 0.060). Regression analysis revealed that male students and those with lower knowledge of aging had significantly higher ageism levels (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION The Arabic version of the FSA is a reliable and valid tool for assessing ageist attitudes among Arabic-speaking nursing students. It can be used for future research and in designing educational interventions aimed at reducing ageism.