Investigating factorial structure, reliability and validity of the Extended Life Orientation Test- Persian Version (ElOT-P) in the university students population

Aim and The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factorial structure, reliability and divergent and convergent validity of the Extended Life Orientation Test- Persian Version (ElOT-P).Methods and Materials: First, ElOT was translated to Persian language. Then by using the back-translation procedure, the gaps between the translated version and the original version were corrected. Finally, after the pilot study and modifying the defected items, the final questionnaire accompanied by the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to sample group consisting of 332 students studying in Humanities Sciences in Tabriz Payam Noor University (213 female, 119 male). In this study, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) by using Principal Component methods with Varimax Rotation was conducted on 15 items of ElOT-P. Chattel's Scree plot and Horn’s parallel analysis indicated two factor solutions. Examination of factors loadings revealed that two items have low and equal load on two factors. These items were deleted and the second Principal Component factor analysis was conducted on the remaining 13 items. The results showed clearly two factors. The first factor accounted for 25.68 percent and the second factor about 11.87 percent of the variance in the item set. Like the original questionnaire, these factors were called pessimism and optimism, according to the items contents. The reliability of the ELOT-P was calculated by internal consistency (alpha). Alpha coefficients for pessimism and optimism scales obtained 0.83 and 0.71, respectively. In order to assess divergent and convergent validity, correlation between scores of pessimism and optimism scales with various measures of psychological well-being (life satisfaction and depressive symptoms) was calculated. The Results showed that there is positive and meaningful correlation between pessimism with depression, and optimism with Life Satisfaction. Also the relationship between pessimism with optimism and depression with Life Satisfaction were negative and meaningful. The results of alpha correlations and also correlation coefficients show that reliability and validity of scales are in acceptable level. The Extended Life Orientation Test-Persian Version (ElOT-P) has appropriate psychometric properties for utilizing in psychological research and counseling situations.