Establishing And Validating Factor Structure Of Bonding To God Scale

Abstract:

The present study aimed to explore the psychometric properties and construct validity of Bonding to God (BTG) Scale by using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The factor structure of the BTG scale is not confirmed in Pakistan. The data was collected from different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad from October 2016 to January 2017. The study included a total of 150 adults, 80 men (53.3%) and 70 women (46.7%) for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and 291 adults, 154 men (52.9%) and 137 women (47.1%) to confirm the factor structure resulting from EFA using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). An inclusion criterion was Muslim adults from any religious sect having minimum age of 18 years. Results from EFA revealed a four-factor solution with an accumulated 52.18% percent variance. As in the original scale out of the total 34 items, 7 items loaded on connection to God (α = .91) 14 items constituted complaining attitude towards God (α = .83) 8 items comprised of nearness to God (α = .87) and 4 items loaded on level of content (α = .82). Item 3 did not show loading on any factor and it was excluded from the scale as its estimates were also non-significant. Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed good indices of model fit. The 33 items bonding to God scale emerged as an internally valid and reliable scale for Muslim adults.

Keywords: Bonding to God, Nearness, Content, Complaining attitude, Connection, Validation.