The improvement of post-traumatic cognitive attribution scale: its relationship with loneliness and depression

Summary The purpose of this study is to develop a measurement tool that evaluates post-traumatic non-adaptive cognitive attributions. The study was conducted on a total of 1220 university students with trauma experience, 877 of these were women and 343 were men. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, and some reliability analyses were carried out in this study. According to the findings obtained from the study, a three-dimensional scale with an explained variance of 54.95% was attained. The dimensions of the scale were entitled “Perceived Loss of Control”, “Impaired Perception of Continuity” and “Self-Blame”. Additionally, the intermediary role of loneliness in the relationship between post-traumatic cognitive attribution and depression was tested. Post-traumatic cognitive attribution was found to be related to loneliness and depression. The results of the research show that the post-traumatic cognitive attribution scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool.