Psychometric Properties of the Persian Generalized
Trust Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Rasch
Models and Relationship with Quality of Life,
Happiness, and Depression
The psychometric properties of the Generalized Trust Scale (GTS) are well established.
Furthermore, previous studies have found that the GTS is positively associated with better
mental health and lower distress, and the literature finds that trust is good for mental
health. However, current literature does not have any psychometric evidence concerning
the Persian GTS. This study translated the GTS into Persian and validated its psychometric
properties. After translating the GTS into Persian using robust and standardized
translation procedure, 1200 Iranians (mean age = 34.83 years; 583 [48.6%] males) completed
the GTS, along with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short
Form-12 (SF-12), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form (OHQ-SF). The
factor structure of Persian GTS was confirmed by a unidimensional model with a method
factor (comparative fit index = 0.998; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.992). The unidimensional
model was also supported by Rasch analysis (mean square = 0.75 to 1.31). Other
properties of the Persian GTS were satisfactory. More specifically, test-retest reliability
was good (intraclass correlational coefficient = 0.865), internal consistency was good
(α = 0.881), and concurrent validity was supported (standardized β = − 0.086 with depression
in the HADS [p = 0.045]; = − 0.162 with anxiety in the HADS [p < 0.001]; =
0.077 with mental component score in the SF-12 [p = 0.044]; = 0.624 with OHQ-SF
[p < 0.001]). The six-item Persian GTS has promising psychometric properties and can be
an effective measure to assess trust among Iranians