Psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale (IRSS-Thai) among Thai secondary school students

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale (IRSS-Thai) among Thai adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 520 secondary school students in grades 7 - 12 aged 11 - 18 years in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. The original instrument was adapted and translated into Thai following forward and backward translation procedures, with review by the original developer and expert panels. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and corrected item-total correlations (CITCs). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to examine the underlying component structure of the IRSS-Thai, with item loadings and communalities to evaluate the adequacy of the items. Results: The 11-item IRSS-Thai demonstrated high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of .91 and CITCs ranging from .55 to .72. PCA supported a single-component structure, with an eigenvalue of 5.72, explaining 52.0% of the total variance. All items contributed adequately to the underlying construct of rejection sensitivity, with loadings ranging from .63 to .78 and communalities ranging from .39 to .61. Conclusion: The IRSS-Thai appears suitable for assessing rejection sensitivity among Thai adolescents, with high internal consistency and an appropriate single-component structure. However, further studies examining its convergent validity and establishing normative data and appropriate cut-off scores are needed before its use for screening and assessment of adolescents in educational and clinical settings in the Thai context.