Turkish Validity and Reliability Study of the Suicide Caring Competence Scale: A Methodological Study

Objective: Suicide is a preventable public health problem with significant consequences for both individuals and their families. As caregivers play a central role in early detection and intervention efforts, this study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Suicide Care Competence Scale in the Turkish context (SCCS-TR). Methods: This study was conducted with 147 family members providing direct care to patients at risk of suicide. A pilot study with 14 caregivers outside the main sample and a test-retest with 50 caregivers from the sample were performed. Data were collected with the Descriptive Information Form and the SCCS-TR. The validity of the scale was assessed through evaluations of language validity, content validity, face validity, and construct validity. To assess the reliability, analyses of stability and internal consistency were performed. Results: The 18-item SCCS-TR demonstrated content validity index values ranging from 0.81-1 and was found to be factorable (Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin = 0.77; Bartlett’s Test = 2052.00). The scale confirmed the 5-factor structure; it was determined that the factor loadings were between 0.50 and 0.91 and the fit indices (χ2/df = 4.11, Comparative Fit Index = 0.90, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.93; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.08) were at an acceptable level. It was determined that the test-retest reliability of the scale was r = 0.99, and in the internal consistency assessment, the Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was 0.85, and the reliability coefficients for the subscales ranged from 0.89 to 0.70. Conclusion: The SCCS-TR is a valid and reliable measurement tool in evaluating the care competency of family mem- bers who care for relatives at risk of suicide in Türkiye. Cite this article as: Erfidan SC, Büyükbayram Arslan A.. Turkish validity and reliability study of the suicide caring competence scale. Arch Health Sci Res. 2026, 13, 0168, doi:10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2026.25168.