Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Validation of the Arabic General Risk-Taking Propensity Scale (GRiPS-A) for Early Screening of Risk-Taking Propensity in Omani Adolescents: Evidence from South Sharqiyah Governorate, Oman

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Adolescents across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) carry a rising burden of health-risk behaviours, yet valid instruments to screen general risk-taking propensity (RTP) in Arabic-speaking adolescents are lacking. This study intended to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate an Arabic version of the General Risk-Taking Propensity Scale (GRiPS-A) for Omani adolescents in South Sharqiyah Governorate as an early screening tool for school health services.

Methods: A methodological design followed the ISPOR ten-step protocol. Two forward and two blinded back-translators produced a reconciled Arabic version. An expert panel (n = 7) quantified content validity using the item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and modified kappa, and cognitive debriefing involved 24 Omani adolescents aged 13-18 years. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach's alpha, test-retest correlation over 14 days (n = 15), split-half reliability, and corrected item-total correlations. The modest sample reflects the study's validation stage, for which expert panels of 6-10 and debriefing samples of 15-30 respondents are recommended; larger-scale testing is planned.

Results: The GRiPS-A achieved a scale-level content validity index of 0.86; six items showed excellent validity (I-CVI 0.86-1.00), while Items 4 and 7 (I-CVI = 0.71) were rephrased after debriefing revealed fatalistic readings of "hurt" and "chance". Internal consistency (alpha = 0.88), test-retest stability (r = 0.82, p < .001), split-half reliability (0.86), and item-total correlations (0.52-0.81) were strong.

Conclusions: The GRiPS-A is a valid, reliable, and culturally sensitive brief screener of adolescent RTP in Oman and the wider GCC, supporting proactive prevention aligned with Oman Vision 2040.