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

Summary/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. Afterwards, 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, experiential attitude, perceived control, and selfefficacy 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 different samples could guide community-based intervention programs.

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