Cultural and contextual adaptation of the Solastalgia subscale of the Environmental Distress Scale in drought-affected Kilifi, Kenya.

Abstract

Background: There is an urgent need to measure the psychological toll of climate-related ecological degradation and destruction in low- and middle-income countries. However, availability of locally adapted tools is limited. Our objective was to conduct a transcultural translation and cultural adaptation (TTA) of the Solastalgia subscale of the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS-Solastalgia) in Kilifi, Kenya, which is undergoing transformational changes due to climate change.

Methods: We conducted 5 expert interviews, 2 Focus Group Discussions (n = 22) and 10 cognitive interviews to solicit feedback on the EDS along the following cultural equivalency domains: Comprehensibility (Semantic equivalence); Relevance (Content equivalence); Response set (Technical equivalence) and Completeness (Semantic, criterion and conceptual equivalence).

Results: After an initial translation and back translation of the EDS-Solastalgia, respondents identified several terms that needed to be altered to make the scale understandable, less technical and culturally acceptable. For some items, respondents recommended examples to be included to aid comprehensibility. Feedback from respondents were iteratively integrated into the Swahili EDS-Solastalgia scale, and final endorsement of all changes were confirmed during cognitive interviews.

Discussion: The culturally adapted Swahili EDS-Solastalgia scale needs to be tested for its psychometric properties prior to utilization in survey studies to quantitatively establish the burden of climate-related distress and test for associations with common mental health conditions.