Validating the Turkish version of the Weinstein noise sensitivity scale: effects of age, sex, and education level

Psychometric properties of an arabic translation of the short form of Weinstein noise sensitivity scale (NSS-SF) in a community sample of adolescents

BACKGROUND

The Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale (NSS) is widely recognized as a prominent unidimensional self-reported questionnaire to measure noise sensitivity, which is regarded as the foremost subjective factor moderating the impact of noise on perceived levels of annoyance. In this current study, we conducted an examination of the psychometric properties of a newly translated Arabic version of the short form of the scale (NSS-SF).

METHODS

A sample of 527 Lebanese adolescents participated in the study, completing the NSS-SF with measures of noise annoyance and insomnia. The total sample was randomly divided into two subsamples. Exploratory-to-Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA-CFA) was conducted. The normed model chi-square (χ²/df), the Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI). Values ≤ 5 for χ²/df, and ≤ 0.08 for RMSEA, and 0.90 for CFI and TLI indicate good fit of the model to the data. Composite reliability in both subsamples was assessed using McDonald's ω and Cronbach's alpha.

RESULTS

EFA results on the first split-half subsample revealed that one item (item 2) was removed because of low communality (< 0.3); the other 4 items converged on one factor, which explained 67.85% of the common variance (ω = 0.84 and α = 0.84). CFA was conducted on the second half-split subsample in adults according to the model obtained on the first split-half subsample; the fit indices were acceptable as follows: χ2/df = 5.07/2 = 2.54, p < .001, RMSEA = 0.076 (90% CI 0.001, 0.160), SRMR = 0.021, CFI = 0.992, and TLI = 0.976 (ω = 0.84 and α = 0.84). Configural, metric, and scalar invariance was supported across gender in the total sample.

CONCLUSION

Our findings substantiate that the Arabic version of the NSS-SF is a reliable, psychometrically valid instrument for assessing noise sensitivity among Arab adolescents, thereby enhancing its overall utility and applicability within Arab countries.

Determination of a cutoff for noise sensitivity: Psychometric evaluation of the Turkish Noise Sensitivity Questionnaire (Tr-NoiSeQ)

CONTEXT

There is a need for a clear cutoff to use noise sensitivity (NS) scale as a prediagnostic tool in research and clinical use.

AIMS

: Noise sensitivity questionnaire (NoiSeQ) was adapted into Turkish language (Tr-NoiSeQ); validity and reliability of the Tr-NoiSeQ were assessed. The cutoff for the Tr-NoiSeQ was determined.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

: A descriptive study within subject design.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A group of 402 participants aged between 18 and 52 years filled the Tr-NoiSeQ and the Turkish version of Weinstein noise sensitivity scale (Tr-WNSS) via internet.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Cronbach alpha (α) and the Spearman‒Brown coefficient were calculated for the reliability; Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for the validity. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate cutoff value of the Tr-NoiSeQ.

RESULTS

For the Tr-NoiSeQ, Cronbach α was 0.92, Spearman‒Brown coefficient was 0.93 (P < 0.05). A high significant correlation between the Tr-WNSS and the Tr-NoiSeQ was obtained (r = 0.76, P < 0.05). The fit indexes of the model were obtained as (χ² = 1361.06, df = 546, P < 0.001), χ² / df = 2.49, root mean square error of approximation = 0.06, comparative fit index = 0.83, goodness of fit index = 0.82. The ROC curve showed that the cutoff for the Tr-NoiSeQ was 53 with a 0.92 sensitivity and a 0.85 specificity (P ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The Tr-NoiSeQ is a valid and reliable tool for use in both clinical practice and research. The Tr-NoiSeQ seems to be consistent with the Tr-WNSS and can be used as a screening tool to evaluate NS in audiology.