Development and Validation of the Physical Distancing Behavior Scale: A Study Based on the Integrated Behavior Model

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a comprehensive scale within the framework of the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM), which is recommended for the protection of public health during the Covid-19 pandemic period and is the leading physical distancing behavior among health behaviors. Within the scope of the study, an item pool consisting of a total of 109 items was created and the first item analysis was performed in the pilot sample (N= 100). At the end of the pilot study, Physical Distancing Behavior Scale (PDBS) was developed, comprising a total of 39 items. This scale consisted of instrumental attitude, experiential attitude, subjective norms, perceived control, self-efficacy, environmental constraints, knowledge habit, intention, and behavior structures. Af-terwards, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied to 322 participants (age: 36.48) resulting in 21 items and five structures including instrumental attitude, experiential attitude, perceived control, self-efficacy, and knowledge. After factor structures according to EFA had been formed, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted on 472 participants (age: 36,99). The CFA results confirmed 4 constructs consisting of 19 items which are instrumental attitude, experiential attitude, perceived control, and self-efficacy (RMSEA=0.057, GFI=0.93, CFI=0.94, NFI=0.90, X2/df=2.51), Cronbach’s alpha scores of all sub-scales varied between 0.68-0.85. The results revealed that physical distancing behavior has been evaluated through the instrumental attitude, experi-ential attitude, perceived control, and self-efficacy constructs of IBM. In future studies, the scale may also need to be tested with different model studies. As regards the modeling studies that used this scale, examining diffe-rent samples could guide community-based intervention programs.