ORIGINAL PAPER
Validation of the German version of the Perceived Cohesion Scale
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1
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
(Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy)
2
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
(Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology)
Online publication date: 2024-09-26
Corresponding author
Eva Morawa
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy,
Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(4):421-32
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: Team or group cohesion is a multifaceted construct with a variety of definitions and measurement instruments. However, most of these
measures are context and group-specific and/or time-consuming. There is no adaptable and economic measure of group cohesion in Germany.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the German version of the 6-item Perceived Cohesion Scale (PCS) in a sample of adult nurses in
a German University Hospital. Material and Methods: The German version of the PCS was generated according to existing guidelines. Confirmatory
factor analysis was conducted to assess factor structure. Reliability was tested via internal consistency. To assess convergent and divergent validity,
the authors applied the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ), the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients (ENRICHD)
Social Support Inventory (ESSI), the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Results: The confirmatory
factor analysis confirmed a 2-factor structure. Psychometric properties of the German PCS prove satisfactory. Internal consistency was excellent
for the whole scale (α = 0.95), as well as for both subscales: sense of belonging (SOB) (α = 0.94) and morale (MOR) (α = 0.93). Moderate to strong
correlations with the subscales of COPSOQ (Kendall’s Tau (τ) = 0.239 – 0.471) indicated very good convergent validity. Regarding divergent validity,
the correlations of the PCS subscales and the PHQ-4 were low (τ = –0.109–[–0.143]), as were the correlations with ESSI (τ = 0.045–0.136). Correlations
with ERI were low to moderate (τ = –0.181–0.283). Conclusions: The German version of the PCS showed good psychometric properties. Due
to its economic and universal deployment, group cohesion can be measured in a variety of contexts and settings. Int J Occup Med Environ Health.
2024;37(4):421–32