Evaluation of The Validity and Reliability of The Turkish Version of The “Dark Future Scale”

INTRODUCTION: Future anxiety is a common mental health issue, especially among young people and medical students, and is influenced by various factors. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties, including the validity and reliability, of the Turkish adaptation of the Dark Future Scale in a sample of intern medical students.
METHODS: This study, employing a methodological design, was implemented from June 1 to December 30, 2022, with 301 intern physicians at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University. The validity of the scale was assessed using content and construct validity, convergent and criterion-related validity, along with item-total correlation analysis. The reliability of the scale was evaluated through item-total correlation analysis, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), and test-retest reliability.
RESULTS: A moderate, positive correlation was observed between the Dark Future Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21, supporting convergent validity. Item-total correlations for the Dark Future Scale ranged from 0.73 to 0.90, with all values statistically significant (p < 0.001). Goodness-of-fit indices in confirmatory factor analysis showed that the construct validity of the Dark Future Scale was at an acceptable level. The scale showed strong reliability, with item-total correlations ranging from 0.73 to 0.90, a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89, and a test-retest coefficient of 0.94.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results showed that the Dark Future Scale is valid and reliable in medical school students and is an ideal tool to measure future anxiety. The brevity and practicality of the scale make it easy to use in both research and clinical settings.