Factor Structure, Reliability and Validity of the Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Questionnaire: Children Form-The Persian Version

The aim of this study was to provide Persian version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Questionnaire (Cooper, Stirling, Dawe, Pugnaghi, & Corr, 2017). in children and the factor structure, reliability and validity in Iranian children. The English version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Questionnaire was performed on 314 (135 boys and 179 girls) students from third to sixth grades of primary school at 2016-2017 in Tehran and the reliability of Persian version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Questionnaire in children was assessed via internal consistency and item-rest correlations. Factor structure of the scale was examined using exploratory factor analysis and principal component analysisextraction method and the validity of questionnaire was examined via correlation between the subscales and criterion validity. The exploratory factor analysis of the questionnaire supported the 3-factor model of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Questionnaire in children which explained 37.78% of the variance. The factors included Behavioral Inhibition System, Behavioral approach system and Fight-Flight-Freeze System. The results showed that 3 subscales of Persian version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Questionnaire in children had a good internal consistency and most of the correlations range more than 0.4 and only question 18 was deleted from the questionnaire due to factor load below 0.30%. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis also indicated a good fit of the items. In addition, the pattern of subscales correlation coefficients and Concurrent criterion validity of the questionnaire with the child version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski, Rieffe, Jellesma, Terwogt, & Kraaij, 2007)indicated a good validity of this scale. According to the results of this study, it can be said that the Persian version of the reinforcement sensitivity questionnaire of children has a good reliability and validity in Iranian society and is an appropriate tool for identifying children's basic motivational and emotional traits